How to Rig Your Own Descending Device
Beginning July 15, 2020, all vessels fishing for or possessing snapper and grouper species in federal waters off NC, SC, GA, and East FL are required to have a descending device on board and readily available for use. The descending device must be attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 ft of line. Get additional information on descending devices and best fishing practices by visiting the following link: https://safmc.net/best-fishing-practi.... Descending devices help reduce the effects of barotrauma, a condition that occurs when a fish is rapidly reeled up from depth. Changes in pressure cause the fish’s swim bladder to expand, filling the body cavity with air and preventing the fish from swimming back down. Signs of barotrauma include protrusion of the stomach from the fish’s mouth, bulging eyes, anal prolapse and bubbling scales. A descending device can quickly be used to transport the fish back to depth, greatly improving its chances of survival. To use a descending device like the one rigged in this video, attach it to a rod using a snap swivel and have it out and ready for use. When you need to release a fish showing signs of barotrauma, hook the fish in the lower jaw, drop the fish overboard and down to the depth at which it was caught, and then release the fish by tugging the line so it falls off the barbless hook.
SAFMC
This channel is designed to help keep you informed on South Atlantic Fishery Management Council actions and other items of interest in the South Atlantic region. It is managed by the South Atlantic Council staff. We welcome your comments and questions. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, headquartered in Charleston, S.C., is responsible for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the federal 200-mile limit of the Atlantic off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida to Key West. See: www.safmc.net
