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Shelton · Fish Handling

Shelton SFD Fish Descender

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Item weight
0.01 Kilograms
Product dimensions
5.91 x 2.83 x 0.28 inches

Quick take

A mechanical device that descends fish to depth to recompress their swim bladders after barotrauma.

The Shelton SFD is a compact fish descender for anglers who release fish suffering from barotrauma. It clips to the fish and lowers it to a depth beyond 30 feet, where water pressure helps the swim bladder recompress. It is a small piece of gear, about 6 inches long, that fits easily in a tackle box.

Best for

  • Deep water fishing for bottom species
  • Anglers targeting fish from depths exceeding 30 feet
  • Conservation-minded anglers wanting to release deep-caught fish

Skip if

  • You fish shallow water consistently

Strengths

  • Mechanically recompresses swim bladders to increase survival
  • Works in various water types and conditions
  • Helps recover and release deep-water fish humanely

Trade-offs

  • Requires fish to survive initial capture
  • Must be deployed carefully to avoid further injury
  • Heavier deep-water fishing reduces frequency of use

Specifications

Specifications
Typefish descender
Descent DepthGreater than 30 feet

Updated