![]() Note: it’s very important not to insert your object too far into the swim bladder as too deep of a puncture could hit other vital organs causing injury to the fish and even death. ![]() If done correctly, you should hear the gases releasing in a similar sound to letting air out a ball or bike tire. Puncturing the fish in this spot should create a hole in the fish’s swim bladder that allows the trapped gases to escape. Until you get more experienced at venting properly, it really only takes a minimal puncture to release excess gasses. Tip: When using a venting tool or any sharp object intended on venting or puncturing the fish, use your thumb and forefinger as a guard to stop the venting tool or object from puncturing the fish too deeply. Team Marine and Ohero both make good specialized venting tools that are inexpensive and high-quality. Most venting tools are large-gauge hollow needles that allow gasses to escape through their chambers. Lift the fish’s scale and make an insertion at a 45-degree angle through the fish’s skin using a sharp object such as a venting tool or specialized needle. To vent the fish, start at the base of the pectoral fin and move about one to two inches behind the base with your finger. Once you have done this, you are ready to vent your fish. Hold your fish gently but firmly in place here. Some people like to put a wet towel down in the resting spot for better stability and to keep the fish wet. Next, find a good spot on the boat such as a bait cutting board or cooler to rest the fish on. Venting Your Fishįirst, try to get the fish on board quickly with as little handling of the fish as possible. Time is of the essence once you determine a fish needs to be vented. Is the fish bloated and floating on the surface? Are its’ eyes bulging? Is it’s stomach sticking out of its’ mouth? Are the intestines sticking out of the back?Īnswering yes to these questions is an indication that your fish needs to be vented before being released. ![]() ![]() Once you’ve hooked your fish and gotten it to the surface, it should be fairly simple to determine whether your fish is experiencing barotrauma. How to Vent A Fish Vent your fish by making a small puncture at a 45-degree angle behind the pectoral fin. In this article, we go over how to properly vent a fish experiencing barotrauma, common fish venting mistakes and what fish species need to be vented. This allows the fish to swim back to the bottom to a safer environment. Venting is the process used to release the gases in the fish’s swim bladder. They frequently die from stress, exposure to the elements and by being an easy meal for other predators. In this condition, the fish cannot swim back to the bottom due to their expanded swim bladder. This can cause their stomachs and intestines to protrude from their orifices. When bottom fish are pulled up from sizable depths around 30 feet or more, their swim bladders - which control buoyancy and help fish maintain their position in the water column - expand with gases. It’s also important to ensure that we manage our reef fish populations in the best manner possible. This skill is necessary to properly release undersized and out-of-season fish. One of the most critical things to know how to do when offshore fishing is how to properly vent grouper, snapper and other bottom fish in order to release them safely.
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