I have a seperate outfit just for the job (don't I HLOKK)!!

It is used only for release weight and burley bomb duties. It has a clip swivel for ease of switching between the two.

ALWAYS TIME FOR FISHIN' 

verry rarely as we dont get many fish to use it on

dont get too many fish full stop

RUSS & SANDY

"A family that fishes together stays together"

I have a big hand line reel with thin VB cord( braided rope) with a manufactured release weight permantly attached.  It just sits in the side pocket until needed.

I have been using homemade release wieghts for many years but was given this one by fisheries for free. All boats over 5 metres should pay $10 more for rego and get a free release weight.

If you want to make your own. I just screwed a big hook upside down onto a 24 oz sinker. Then I bound the shank on the hook to the sinker to stop it turning. Tied the sinker on to my drop line as per normal. Obviously remove the barb on the hook and make it a real big hook with a long straight shank. Ensure the bend of the hook is about level with the top of the sinker when you attach it. My homemade one lasted me well over 5 years before I was given a new one and successfully released many hundreds of fish.

.
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No Orange Hats Allowed

V8 twin turbo diesel....Ohh what a feeling!

Good constructive thread on the use of release weights. I bought one from Campbells years ago when I first got my boat (Before Ryan had his store otherwise I would have sorced it from Ryan ). I use a similar set up to Noha. Wouldn't dream of not having one on my boat.

Colin Molloy

(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

Got a old cut down rod and reel setup, Got sick of the hand line for the burley bomb so use for both..

I swear by the release weight. One thing thought, winding up a fish "very quickly" will be increasing the death ratio big time! I prefer to wind up my small to medium fish slowly and when the fish is approx 2-4m under the boat let it vent (releasing air bubbles) This will give the fish the best chance to survive on using the release weight if required!

You can buy it from the shop, make your own........it really doesnt matter as long as ppl use it!

 * Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *

Owner/Operator "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South Street, O'Connor, Perth Ph# 9337 5682

I dont own a release weight but am keen to learn the method of releasing fish hauled up from great depths. I have released many under size fish over the years and they all seemed to swim away with no trouble untill recently when fish'n in 28 metres I found it difficult to get a juvenile dhufish to swim off they tended to lay on there side and thrash about for a while then eventually come good and swim away. Yesterday I released a juvenile Dhufish which was caught in 30 metres its swim bladder was bloated I pushed him through the water to force water threw his gills I did this for about 2 minutes ,when I let him go he drifted under the boat and I saw him slowly swim away. I've made a release weight this morning in my shed using a huge snapper sinker and attached a barbless hook.At what depth does one release the fish do I lower the fish all the way to the bottom or release the fish 5 or so metres shy of the bottom? I'm a greenie at this but really want to learn the technique, any info would be appreciated.

Cheers kev

FISHING IS MY ADDICTION

Kev, i prefer to release the fish via simple release and let them swim down but if the "venting" just under my boat didnt do the job and the slow retreive didnt do the job (small ratio) then i'll use the release weight but "drop the fish right to the bottom".

I used to drop the fish half way down sometimes and then i'd see some fish float back up so  yeh...drop em right to the bottom and recapture that fish when bigger

* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *

Owner/Operator "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South Street, O'Connor, Perth Ph# 9337 5682

Will only just start to venture off shore regularly this summer, now that motor was fully overhauled during winter, so haven't had opportunity to need one, however will be purchasing one before heading out this weekend

Recfishwest have now made a DVD you can get from tackle shops and you can also download and watch it ( the video)  from their website.

I can put up a link if you want ??

________________________________________________________________________

OFW   Agent 88 , the Scarecrow.

Look under Fishwrecked Tips on the right under the random pic.

There is a link there on how to use the release weight. Goes to the recfishwest site.

** Rockingham Offshore Fishing Club **

I think with people fishing out deeper now that the release weight whether hand made or shop bought should be a permanent fixture in the tackle bag  , there are other ways like using small breaking strain line through the lip and onto a sinker of a bottom rig as I havent seen many fixed release rigs with over 300 metres of line to hand some of these deep water species

Yep downloaded the video thanks to Andy Mac excellent video clear cut stuff makes the task look easy, going out in the morning so might get a chance to put it to the test.

Kev

FISHING IS MY ADDICTION

I can not believe that 4 people think it doesn't work , can I ask WHY you don't think it works ??????????????????????????????????????

________________________________________________________________________

OFW   Agent 88 , the Scarecrow.

Mav, i'll be having some video footage of my own that we're going to film. I have positive thoughts on the release weight but a "few questions" i have will be answered by way of filming proof!

Will be interesting! 

* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *

Owner/Operator "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South Street, O'Connor, Perth Ph# 9337 5682