Photo courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. There are many types of descending devices that anglers can make at home or purchase. As the fish descend, their swim bladders naturally decrease with the increase in pressure. Anglers should assess each fish individually to determine if they need descending assistance and choose a method that they are comfortable using.ĭescending devices offer non-invasive options for anglers to depressurize fish by sending them back down to depth and allowing their swim bladders to return to size naturally. What Anglers Can Do to Reverse BarotraumaĪnglers can use descending devices or venting tools on fish showing signs of barotrauma. Sluggish swimming or inability to swim downward.Bloated midsection or distended intestines.Several factors such as species, depth, and time of fight can affect the severity of these signs. If the fish is able to return to depth, it may have health issues from prolonged impacts of barotrauma. These fish become easy prey for sharks, dolphins, and birds. Barotrauma is most common in depths greater than 90 feet.įish experiencing barotrauma have difficulty swimming back to their original depth, often floating on the surface for an extended time. Generally, fish caught deeper than 33 feet can experience barotrauma, but some species, such as bull red drum, may show signs at shallower depths. The pressure in the water increases 1 atmosphere approximately every 33 feet. As an angler quickly brings a fish up from deep water, the pressure of the fish’s environment decreases, causing its swim bladder to expand. Barotrauma is bodily injury to a fish caused by sudden changes in pressure.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |