Saved a Redfish

As we fished the entrance to the St Johns River, we watched a redfish float by us on the surface struggling to swim. When we went over and checked her out we found her air bladder blown up - she was belly up and could not get right in the water. Someone brought her up before her bladder could adjust and then released her. We took her on board, snapped this picture and then vented her air bladder. A few minutes of reviving in the water and she kicked and swam off! Quite a fish - we estimated at well over 30 pounds.

[BigLew]

OK, I'll bite. How do you vent a fish's air bladder?

[copout]

OK, I'll bite. How do you vent a fish's air bladder?

With a venting tool (large gauge needle), becoming a manditory tool onboard down here as well as a dehooking tool.

[McGillicuddy]

Heres one of Ron's pieces. Check out the links he offers from FL Sea Grant.
http://saltfishing.about.com/od/catc.../aa061220a.htm

Out west distended swim bladders are a problem with the popular rockfishes (Sebastes spp.)species, as they are typically deeper water catches.

CA Sea Grant is starting to advise against venting, suggesting that it will cause infection and it may be detrimental to the fish... I don't know - if you do nothing the fish will die, if you properly vent it and send it down using an upside-down milk crate or something, at least it has a chance of survival. I keep an iv size (maybe 18 ga.) hypodermic needle in the tackle box just in case I come across a suffering giant black sea bass(our version of the Jewfish, err, Goliath grouper now), but I rarely fish for the tasty rockfishes.

[pl99]

GREAt JOB! Awesome thing to do....

[BigLew]

This may be out of line to some and Strick, for one, would know much better than I. Sticking (venting) a fish's swim bladder with a "dirty" needle simply stricks me as potentially main lining any number of things including bacteria, fungus, mold, etc. Further, unless the swim bladder heals and regains its ability to hold gas at pressure, it may be incapable of functioning as a bladder allowing gas to refill the abdomenol(?) cavity. It may be better than doing nothing at all and I am all ears for the thoughts of others.

I, for one, have never knowingly encountered the situation and would rather not have to make the decision because I would likely just take the fish to eat, of give to someone else who would rather than leaving it to likely waste. Not that that would really happen given how Mother Nature normally works.

[McGillicuddy]

Roger that, Big Lew.
Infection is possible, as is inadvertently killing the fish by puncturing a vital organ. On the other hand survival is also possible and a great many critters survive with any number of infections. If not, nothing is wasted in Nature. There is always a beneficiary. That being said,
here is the latest opinion from CA Sea Grant and CA DFG:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pdfs/release.pdf

[gofastsandman]

As we fished the entrance to the St Johns River, we watched a redfish float by us on the surface struggling to swim. When we went over and checked her out we found her air bladder blown up - she was belly up and could not get right in the water. Someone brought her up before her bladder could adjust and then released her. We took her on board, snapped this picture and then vented her air bladder. A few minutes of reviving in the water and she kicked and swam off! Quite a fish - we estimated at well over 30 pounds.

Well done Ron.
I have been venting fish for a decade or so.

I got checked for a proper tool last year. I said I always did it with a riggin` needle. He said it wasn`t a proper tool. I said a tool is a tool{tongue in cheek}.

He was ready to write me when I offered a challenge. Told him I bet he could not vent a fish and gave him a Mutton from the box. He promptly laid down the Pec fin and used his "tool" at the trailing edge. Wrong! I asked for the fish back and used my "tool" at a very acute angle just behind the gill plate and pop/whoosh. I asked if they heard the whoosh and they nodded. If you don`t vent the fish, it has little chance. Sani wipes are a good idea, if your "tool" isn`t hollow.

Cheers,
GFS

I, for one, have never knowingly encountered the situation and would rather not have to make the decision because I would likely just take the fish to eat, of give to someone else who would rather than leaving it to likely waste. Not that that would really happen given how Mother Nature normally works.

I would gladly have taken the fish, but we can't keep one over 27 inches. This one was about 44 inches. The deal was - if we do nothing, the fish dies for sure. If we vent, she has a chance. Big breeder reds like this need that chance!! The approved venting tools are stainless surgical quality hollow needles. Sani-wipes work well if you think it is contaminated. According to biologists I have interviewed, there is a mixed opinion on venting. Some say that if the bladder is distended, there is already some internal organ damage. Others disagree. The biologists working for the state of Florida are on the venting side which is why we have to have an approved "tool" on board. Personally, when I see a fish take off like a shot after venting and reviving, I feel like she has a chance to survive. That's why I've been venting fish for many years as well.

[MasterBaiter]

Hey Gilli. I like the link you attached - thanks. I never liked the venting needle but did it because I figured half the fish would survive as opposed to none if I didn't vent. I do like the barbless hook and weight idea. There is always an extra rod on the boat I can rig with this setup and send them back without stabbing them.

Thanks again.