[BigLew]

This may be out of line to some and Strick, for one, would know much better than I. Sticking (venting) a fish's swim bladder with a "dirty" needle simply stricks me as potentially main lining any number of things including bacteria, fungus, mold, etc. Further, unless the swim bladder heals and regains its ability to hold gas at pressure, it may be incapable of functioning as a bladder allowing gas to refill the abdomenol(?) cavity. It may be better than doing nothing at all and I am all ears for the thoughts of others.

I, for one, have never knowingly encountered the situation and would rather not have to make the decision because I would likely just take the fish to eat, of give to someone else who would rather than leaving it to likely waste. Not that that would really happen given how Mother Nature normally works.