Venting: A Guide to Releasing Reef Fish with Ruptured Swimbladders

Proper release of marine fishes has become increasingly important to anglers. In order to maintain healthy fish populations, each angler is responsible for carefully handling fish that are hooked, and releasing fish that are not harvested so they can spawn or perhaps be caught again.

Reef fish may require special handling during release to decrease mortality. This information is based on the best available research regarding reef fish venting as interpreted by  SAMFC assembled to review this research. Although the authors realize the need for further study of the influence of venting on long-term reef fish survival, sufficient information exists to warrant providing guidelines to assist anglers in successful release practices.

The Problem
Many marine reef fish have a gas-filled organ called a swimbladder, which controls buoyancy and allows the fish to maintain a certain depth in the water column. The gas in the swimbladder can over-expand when fish are brought quickly to the surface by hook and line. This can result in serious injury to the fish, and if released in this buoyant condition, the fish may float away and die from exposure to the elements or become an easy target for predators. This defeats the purpose of fishery management laws such as minimum size restrictions and daily bag limits.

SWIMBLADDER BIOLOGY
Many reef fish have a closed swimbladder, an internal organ filled with gases, mostly oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. This organ is located in the peritoneal cavity attached to the fish’s backbone beneath the dorsal fin. Swimbladders can expand only so far before they burst. When the swimbladder bursts, the swimbladder gases escape into the fish’s body cavity, where they can continue to expand. The pressure exerted by these gases is sufficient to push the stomach out the mouth and the intestines out of the anus. Venting releases these gases from the body cavity, thus eliminating the pressure on the internal organs. If damage is not excessive, the organs will return in place on their own, once the gases are expelled. Venting also will allow the fish to overcome buoyancy problems and swim down to habitat depth, enhancing its immediate survival.

DETERMINING WHICH FISH TO VENT
Scientific studies have shown that species with large swimbladders such as red grouper, black sea bass, and gag derive immediate benefit from venting. Your ability to judge which fish should be vented will improve with practice and experience. After reeling in a fish, closely observe its condition. If the fish is bloated and floats (is unable to control its buoyancy) or if the fish’s stomach is distended out of the mouth, the fish should be vented. If the fish appears normal, not bloated, and is able to swim down to habitat depth on its own, venting is not necessary.

Venting Procedure
It is best to vent the fish as quickly as possible with a minimum of handling. If the fish’s stomach is everted out of the fish’s mouth, do not attempt to push it back into the fish’s body. Expelling the swimbladder gases will allow the stomach to return to its normal position within a few hours. Hold the fish gently but firmly on its side and insert the venting tool at a 45-degree angle approximately one to two inches back from the base of the pectoral fin. Only insert the tool deep enough to release the gases – do not skewer the fish. The sound of the escaping gas is audible and deflation is noticeable. If a fish is extremely bloated, use the hand holding the fish to exert gentle pressure on the fish’s abdomen to aid deflation.

Keep a good grip on the venting tool during the entire process, so that an unexpected jerk from the fish does not dislodge the tool and cause injury to

The fish’s everted stomach should not be punctured. This practice is not as efficient in releasing gas from the body cavity and results in additional injury.

Return the fish to the water as soon as possible. If necessary, revive it by holding the fish with the head pointed downward and moving the fish back and forth to pass water over the gills until the fish is able to swim unassisted.

Venting Tools
A venting tool can be any hollow, sharpened instrument that allows gases to escape. Ice picks and knives are not suitable because simply puncturing the fish is undesirable and can result in a mortal injury.

DeHooker / Vent Tool Combo

Fish Survival Guidelines
Fishing laws are designed to maintain a desirable spawning stock size to ensure adequate future recruitment of juvenile fish. Compliance with fishing laws is essential for sustaining U.S. sport and commercial fisheries. When compliance means releasing a fish, follow these guidelines to improve its survival.

•Have a plan for releasing a fish before landing it. Because time is crucial in keeping a released fish alive, work quickly and in concert with others on board for quick release.

•Avoid using gaffs and landing nets if possible
.
•Handle the fish as little as possible and try to keep the fish in the water.

•Handle the fish with wet hands, wet gloves or a wet towel to avoid removing the beneficial fish slime and be sure to avoid damaging the gills and eyes.

•Back hooks out using pliers or cut the leader as close to the hook as possible on throat-hooked fish. Use hooks which rapidly degrade in saltwater.

•Revive an exhausted fish in the water by passing water over the fish’s gills by using a gentle back and forth swimming motion until the fish recovers.

It is also possible to make your own venting tool. The modified hypodermic needle pictured is an excellent choice for a fish venting tool. A hollow, sharpened stainless steel cannula mounted on a hollow wooden dowel also works. Cannulas (16-gauge recommended) can often be purchased from farm supply and feed stores. The tool should be cleaned between uses and kept in a safe and accessible place. Chlorine bleach is a good disinfectant. Be sure to cap or place a cork on the tip of the tool after use to prevent personal injury.

How To Vent A Fish:  http://www.youtube.com/user/offshorebob29#p/a/u/1/heffqxMb-6g

 

Vent Tool

South Chatham Tackle Dehookers

http://www.southchathamtackle.com/DeHookers.htm

Only by working together will the recreational and commercial fisheries survive. Some may have differing opinions of what type of management they want, but the one common impact we are all suffering from is overly restrictive regulations, the common thread negatively affecting us and our communities.

FIX THE MAGNUSON ACT NOW!!!!

The commercial and recreational fishing industry will gather in Washington DC on February 24, 2010, for the SAVE OUR JOBS – Fix Magnuson NOW rally. Speeches by Senators and Congressmen begin at 12:00 Noon. This blog will be updated as final plans and logistics fall into place.

Fishermen from all coastal states and the Great Lakes are invited to gather at the reserved space near the steps of the Capitol by 11:00 AM on February 24th.

http://www.unitedwefish.com/

Well the fleet in NJ have been whackin and stackin this month. A couple of NC boats ran up there to partake with mixed results.  Some did OK and others could not get the hang of their style of fishing “chunking” .  In NC “chunking” does not seem to work as good as it does a few hundred miles north, why that is remains a mystery..

We have been working on the new weighted  Harpoon  it weighs in at 7 lbs and has a 6′ handle . The head is 10″s of 1″ diameter brass with a 22″ x 7/16ths dia. stainless steer iron screwed in. In the other end is a full 12″ piece of brass counter weight, the overall length is 8′ and is balanced great . This Harpoon is well suited for a Center console boat but not limited to center consoles,  it will work well in the roomiest of cockpits. All the Captains and mates that have tried this harpoon agree it is sweet and will do the job.  With the extra weight and great balance this harpoon can be thrown with deadly accuracy or used close in for an effective stab.  The handles come in 6′ Gold or Black  aluminum , and from 6′ to 12′ Stainless steel. Handles longer than 6′ will have to be picked up in either Sanford NC or Morehead city.  We are selling the Harpoon in just about any configuration you want,  with a dart and rope and buoy ball .  Anyway you want it we will fix it up for you just give us a call . 919-542-1869   

We have been working our tails off getting ready for the Blue fin tuna season. We have been making Harpoons , swim hooks Flying gaff hooks and handles. Most of the machining is done and we will be sending parts out to be anodized and electro ploished. I used to polish all our products by hand but no more . I had a flying gaff hook ripped fron my hands and tear through my leg and a swim hook snatched from my grip hit me in the head and then fly about 30 ft hitting the ceiling and then a wall.  I quit buffing by hand….. Electro polishing gives us about 500% better corrosion resistance, so it is a good move for us, it cost a little more but much better in the end.

We have designed a new dehooker tool with a vent tool built into the handle .  We have applied for a patent and hope this product takes off

We have also developed a new Thunder head for our harpoons. it fits in our flying gaff handles and gives a lot more weight were it is needed .We will offer them as a stand alone Harpoon or in the combo with a flying gaff hook. or swimming hook . They can be purchased as a retro fit for our Flying gaff handles as we make all our tools to be interchangeable.

On a technical note we are machining the retaining slot for our tools a little bit deeper.  These are the slots that the thumb screw tightens into. We have had a few customers using the nylon screw instead of the SS thumb screw.

South Chatham Tackle has now teamed up with Precision Auto Reels to bring you the complete package.  If you are in the market for an Electric fishing reel and battery pack check with us first, we have it all and can put together a complete package or if it’s only a part you need we can help you out .