Friends in Low Places

Releasing bottomfish using proper techniques goes a long way toward maintaining healthy populations.

- Nate Matthews

We couldn't do a Depth Issue without talking about barotrauma. When you reel up fish from deep water, the rapid pressure change causes a number of physical symptoms, including distended stomachs, bloated abdomens, and even bulging eyes. Any angler who bottom fishes in about 50 feet of water or deeper has seen barotrauma firsthand.

Even if a fish looks healthy at first glance, the effects of barotrauma can be fatal, causing the fish to float at the surface helplessly. Anglers need to recognize the signs of barotrauma and take steps to minimize the damage caused by rapid decompression. Releasing bottom fish like snapper and grouper is not as simple as unhooking them and tossing them overboard.