How to Vent Snapper, Grouper and Bottom Fish [With Capt. Dylan Hubbard]

One of the most critical things to know how to do when offshore fishing is how to properly vent grouper, snapper and other bottom fish in order to release them safely.

This skill is necessary to properly release undersized and out-of-season fish.  It’s also important to ensure that we manage our reef fish populations in the best manner possible.

So what does it mean to “vent” a fish?

When bottom fish are pulled up from sizable depths around 30 feet or more, their swim bladders — which control buoyancy and help fish maintain their position in the water column — expand with gases. This can cause their stomachs and intestines to protrude from their orifices.

In this condition, the fish cannot swim back to the bottom due to their expanded swim bladder. They frequently die from stress, exposure to the elements and by being an easy meal for other predators. This is known as barotrauma.

Venting is the process used to release the gases in the fish’s swim bladder. This allows the fish to swim back to the bottom to a safer environment.

In this article, we go over how to properly vent a fish experiencing barotrauma, common fish venting mistakes and what fish species need to be vented.

How to Vent A Fish 

Once you’ve hooked your fish and gotten it to the surface, it should be fairly simple to determine whether your fish is experiencing barotrauma.

Is the fish bloated and floating on the surface? Are its’ eyes bulging? Is it’s stomach sticking out of its’ mouth? Are the intestines sticking out of the back?

Answering yes to these questions is an indication that your fish needs to be vented before being released.

Time is of the essence once you determine a fish needs to be vented.

Venting Your Fish

First, try to get the fish on board quickly with as little handling of the fish as possible.

Next, find a good spot on the boat such as a bait cutting board or cooler to rest the fish on. Some people like to put a wet towel down in the resting spot for better stability and to keep the fish wet. Hold your fish gently but firmly in place here.

Once you have done this, you are ready to vent your fish.

To vent the fish, start at the base of the pectoral fin and move about one to two inches behind the base with your finger. Lift the fish’s scale and make an insertion at a 45-degree angle through the fish’s skin using a sharp object such as a venting tool or specialized needle.

Most venting tools are large-gauge hollow needles that allow gasses to escape through their chambers. Team Marine and Ohero both make good specialized venting tools that are inexpensive and high-quality.

Tip: When using a venting tool or any sharp object intended on venting or puncturing the fish, use your thumb and forefinger as a guard to stop the venting tool or object from puncturing the fish too deeply. Until you get more experienced at venting properly, it really only takes a minimal puncture to release excess gasses.

Puncturing the fish in this spot should create a hole in the fish’s swim bladder that allows the trapped gases to escape. If done correctly, you should hear the gases releasing in a similar sound to letting air out a ball or bike tire.

Note: it’s very important not to insert your object too far into the swim bladder as too deep of a puncture could hit other vital organs causing injury to the fish and even death.

Once you have released the air from the swim bladder, the fish is ready to go back in the water and back to the bottom to its’ happy dwelling.

The Most Common Fish Venting Mistakes

Many anglers make mistakes when venting which can cause injury and death to the fish. Some of the most common problems are easily avoidable if you know the proper techniques listed above. Some of the most common fish venting mistakes include the following:

1. Puncturing the Stomach – Many anglers mistakenly identify the fish’s protruding stomach as its’ swim bladder. They puncture the stomach thinking they are properly releasing the gases keeping the fish afloat. This is not an effective means of venting the fish and will almost always result in further harm to it.
2. Pushing the Stomach Back in – Some anglers may try to push the fish’s stomach back inside the fish. This can be dangerous for the fish and may cause additional stress to its’ internal organs. Always remember that it is not necessary to alter the position of the fish’s stomach. The fish’s organs will return to a normal position in a couple of hours after being released.
3. Venting Fish that Don’t Need to be Vented – Not all bottom fish need to be vented, especially fish that are caught in depths of less than 30 feet. Venting these fish causes unnecessary injury, so always be sure the fish you’re venting has an expanded swim bladder before doing so.
4. Puncturing the Fish too Deep – We touched on it in the last section but making a puncture too deep in the swim bladder can cause damage to the fish which can result in death.
5. Taking too Long and Handling the Fish too Much – This is a general rule for all fishing. Handling fish with dry hands and keeping it out of the water for too long can doom it quickly. Always make sure to vent your fish quickly and to handle it as little as possible, always using wet hands. Proper dehooking is also critical and using a dehooker tool will speed up how long it takes to get your fish vented and back in the water with the least amount of damage possible.

You can keep fish healthy and release them to grow bigger, spawn and be caught again in the future by avoiding these mistakes!

Fish Species that Require Venting

Many bottom-dwelling fish do not have swim bladders and do not require venting when pulled up from the bottom. Fish such as cobia, sharks, kingfish, swordfish and many other species can move about different depths with no adverse effects whatsoever.

Many popular bottom fishing species do have swim bladders and will require venting when caught from certain depths. These species include:

• Grouper
• Snapper
• Black Sea Bass
• Amberjack
• Triggerfish
• Snook

You can prepare for a day of fishing by knowing that you will need to vent fish caught in certain depths. If you know you’re going to be fishing in depths greater than 30 feet, it is important to be ready with the equipment you need to vent any out-of-season or undersized fish you catch experiencing barotrauma.

How to Catch and Vent a Fish Video Tutorial

In the video below, I show you how to catch a red snapper off the bottom and how to properly vent and release it.

See the tutorial here:

Learn More About The Insider Fishing Club

Conclusion

Many reef species such as grouper and snapper require venting to relieve symptoms of barotrauma.

You can do your part in conserving these vital reef fish populations by keeping the necessary tools on your boat to vent fish.

Remember to look for signs that indicate barotrauma and to avoid the mistakes we identified.

If you have any comments or questions about barotrauma or venting fish, let us know in the comments below:

Tight Lines!

Related Posts:

1. Bottom Fishing For Grouper – Tips & Lessons (Podcast)

2. How To Make A Grouper Rig That Saves Money, Time, & Marine Life

3. The Best Way To Cook Grouper [10 Amazing Grouper Recipes]

Related Course:

Grouper Mastery Course