Best catches on camera

[banshee]

Piercing the stomach/swim blader is a death sentence,learn to do it properly and your efforts won't be in vain,in the side below the lateral line about three dorsal rays back or up the top side of the bum,let them swallow their stomach again with the needle in and they should be sweet.Have to say I haven't had to many dramas with fish out of 30 metres and as for fish such as caranx and seriola it could be as simple as having your deckie drive a hundred metres or so of the mark and releasing them with a bomb on another part of the reef.

[scuttlebutt]

yeah the method you describe is the one we use, but it doesn't help when the eyes have blown as well. Fish like trout are pretty hardy and generally zip back down, but some of the cod and lutjunids don't always handle it so well, especially when they've been brought up fast on heavy gear (most often the case). I accept it is probably the best alternative for MINIMIZING harm, but that doesn't make it harmLESS, and there are still plenty of casualties.

cheers,

steve

[banshee]

"...But it dosen't help when the eyes are blown as well" yep,got to agree there,probably need God in the boat to save those ones,also agree there's not much point stuffing about if they're going to get sharked on the way up.