Alaska Saltwater Fishing
Deep-Water Release
Deep-Water Release of Fish
If you've ever caught a fish in deep water (water in excess of 100 feet), you have probably noticed the bulging eyes and protruding stomach of the fish as it arrives on the surface. This condition is generically known as barotrauma, and it is caused by the expansion of the fish's swim bladder ("float bladder" to some). The bladder expands as a result of the sudden reduction of pressure on the fish as it is reeled up from depth. To understand how this works, you need to know a simple principle of physics.