Venting tools no longer required when fishing in state waters

Fishermen in Florida are no longer required to use a venting tool when fishing for reef fish such as snapper and grouper in Gulf of Mexico state waters.

Venting tools are also not required in Atlantic state or federal waters.

The Florida Fish and wildlife Conservation commission did away with the rule in November to give fishermen more choices about how to best maximize survival of released reef fish using devices they feel are appropriate, depending on the circumstances.

Venting tools are hollow, sharpened instruments that provide one way to treat barotrauma, a condition that occurs when fish are brought quickly to the surface from deep water.

The change in pressure from depth to surface can cause gases within the fish’s swim bladder to expand, which can damage internal organs and reduce the likelihood a fish will survive when returned to the water.

While venting tools are still a useful way to increase chances of fish survival after release, there are more recently developed alternatives like descending devices that also can be used to increase survival rates among fish.

The use of non-stainless steel, non-offset circle hooks and dehooking devices are still required in state and federal Gulf waters when fishing for reef fish.

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