Any tips for releasing groundfish?

[sportsman250]

When your in the deep jigging and you can tell its something small anything you can do to make 'em live? All the shorts we released became floaters. I tried reeling them in slower, to no success. We were in 200 to 600 ft out east.

[maritime23]

You need to deflate their swim bladder. they sell a tool with instruction to do this Try this site.


www.teammarineusa.us/index.htm


Maritime23

[masymas]

I've found that cod are usually able to swim back down but the do better if you drop them in head first. The slap gets them going. If you baby them, they just lay there and don't know which way is down. Not reeling an obvious small fish up 100 mph helps too. Slowing down the jigging when amoung little fish reduces foul hooking.

[sportsman250]

You need to deflate their swim bladder. they sell a tool with instruction to do this Try this site.


www.teammarineusa.us/index.htm


Maritime23

I couldn't see any of the videos with a Mac, where do you poke them? Is it different for each species? I'll get the tool or steal a junkies needle JK thanks for the replys

[maritime23]

Just go in and google deflating swim bladder, you'll get plenty of information.

Maritime23

[fmoore]

I've never had (or maybe so rarely I don't remember) swim bladders of cod, haddock or pollock blow up on me. Redfish and cusk, sure. Am I alone on this one?

[tunatamer73]

I've never had (or maybe so rarely I don't remember) swim bladders of cod, haddock or pollock blow up on me. Redfish and cusk, sure. Am I alone on this one?

Me either. On cod all I do is gently squeeze the belly on undersize fish and they go back to the bottom fairly quick.

[JoeyM]

Me either. On cod all I do is gently squeeze the belly on undersize fish and they go back to the bottom fairly quick.

+1. works for me too.

[sportsman250]

It was mostly in the ~600' depths their bellies were coming out of their mouth, just trying to make sure the small guys don't die for no reason.