Captain’s Corner for December 13 Dave Zalewski 397-8815

Gag and red grouper are closed for us now and red grouper season will open back up Jan 1. Just because the season is closed it does not mean that we cannot fish for them and experience the battle before photo and release. For years we have been using a venting tool which consists of a hollow needle to release the gasses that expand when a fish is brought up from the depths on those that show signs of trauma. Most fish do not need this, especially if caught on light tackle and brought up slowly. Occasionally even when a fish is vented it will fail to swim to the depths and float away. We have added another tool to help with survival of released bottom fish or any other fish that needs assistance. It consists of a lead 3 or 4 pound sounding lead that we use for a marker weight, a 12/0 hook, stainless steel bolt that will fit through the eye of the hook, several zip ties, a plastic hand reel (Cuban Yo-Yo) and enough heavy twine to reach the bottom in the depth we are fishing. Construction is simple, Drill a hole the size of the hook eye through the bottom of the weight, attach the hook, after grinding off the barb, with the nut and bolt, secure the shank of the hook to the weight with several zip ties, attach the twine and the rig is completed.. When releasing a fish, place the hook in the lower jaw, allow the weight to go to the bottom, pull up on the twine and the fish is released in his home environment, with the gasses compressed by the water pressure at depth.