Descending devices are used to return fish to a depth where expanded gases in the body cavity can recompress. Venting tools are sharpened, hollow instruments that anglers can use to treat barotrauma by releasing expanded gas from the swim bladder, enabling the fish to swim back down to capture depth.
How do you help a barotrauma fish?
What can you do? Use Venting or Weighted Descent to Help a Fish with Barotrauma
- Venting releases gas that has expanded within the swim bladder so that the fish can return to depth on its own.
- Weighted descent returns fish to capture depth quickly.
Will a fish survive barotrauma?
Virtually none survive catch-and- release if caught from depths greater than 80 metres. For this species in particular it is essential to release fish quickly once they are caught.
