Best Practices for Safely Releasing Deep Caught Saltwater Fish
Saltwater fish that are caught in deep water may be suffering from “barotrauma,” a buildup of swim bladder gases that makes it difficult or impossible for them to go back down. Generally, fish caught deeper than 30 feet will suffer some effects. Additional guidance is available at www.takemefishing.org/fishsmart, but follow these basic tips:
Assess condition while reeling in fish |
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Recompression |
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Return to Depth |
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Venting |
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