09-15-2014, 05:00 AM
[quote ifishutah]I'm definitely one of the idiots that thinks spearfishing is hunting and plan on doing anything and everything I can to make sure that spearfishing is treated as hunting and not fishing.
It's nice that you can call names and spout your jaded rhetoric but you can't back up your claims that your actions aren't affecting the big fish populations.
The second you shoot a fish, you become a hunter.
Please explain why he didn't shoot and kill the numerous 10-12 inch smallies. The reason is simple. Spear fishermen target big fish because they're a big target and it's a shooting sport, aka hunting. Black bass, specifically, have a large round profile (sunfish family) and are an easy target compared to salmonoids. They (bass) reside in shallow waters during warm months, so targeting bass is inevitable. So the bass, like the nice fish he killed are especially susceptible.
Spearing fish should be treated like hunting if allowed at all.[/quote]
You have obviously have never gone spearfishing. Again it is not an easy activity. Bass are not an easy target. They spook quite easy and are not very willing to sit still.
And who said we did not take a bunch of 10-12 inch fish. Because we did. In fact that is what the other 9 fish that the group took home were and all have been consumed and enjoyed. I don't know anyone that says I don't want to catch a big fish I just want to catch the little ones. And further more most people are going to keep that 4lb bass if they catch it with there pole. A few may release it but most are going to keep it. So that argument does not really hold much in my opinion.
Look guys this argument is really quite stupid. If there were as many spear-fishermen as there were anglers the argument might hold water. But there simply is not. All the spear fishers I know are very aware of the impact that they can have on a fishery and are not going to do anything that will hurt it. The laws have been set up and they follow them just like all the anglers should be doing. In fact I would say that they are helping the fisheries alot more that harming them because while we are out there looking for a few game fish we are also putting the the smack down on the trash fish like the carp. How many anglers while fishing for game fish are taking out the carp at the same time. Slim to none is how many.
Thanks for all the replys on this post. It has been an eye opener for sure. I always new there was bad feelings for the spearfishing sport but not till now did I know just how bad it was. It is simply to bad that we can not all get along and enjoy the waters and what they provide for us. We are pretty lucky to be living in a county that allows us to have so many activities that we can enjoy. Maybe some day we can all get along. Until then I don't see anymore need to beat a dead horse.
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It's nice that you can call names and spout your jaded rhetoric but you can't back up your claims that your actions aren't affecting the big fish populations.
The second you shoot a fish, you become a hunter.
Please explain why he didn't shoot and kill the numerous 10-12 inch smallies. The reason is simple. Spear fishermen target big fish because they're a big target and it's a shooting sport, aka hunting. Black bass, specifically, have a large round profile (sunfish family) and are an easy target compared to salmonoids. They (bass) reside in shallow waters during warm months, so targeting bass is inevitable. So the bass, like the nice fish he killed are especially susceptible.
Spearing fish should be treated like hunting if allowed at all.[/quote]
You have obviously have never gone spearfishing. Again it is not an easy activity. Bass are not an easy target. They spook quite easy and are not very willing to sit still.
And who said we did not take a bunch of 10-12 inch fish. Because we did. In fact that is what the other 9 fish that the group took home were and all have been consumed and enjoyed. I don't know anyone that says I don't want to catch a big fish I just want to catch the little ones. And further more most people are going to keep that 4lb bass if they catch it with there pole. A few may release it but most are going to keep it. So that argument does not really hold much in my opinion.
Look guys this argument is really quite stupid. If there were as many spear-fishermen as there were anglers the argument might hold water. But there simply is not. All the spear fishers I know are very aware of the impact that they can have on a fishery and are not going to do anything that will hurt it. The laws have been set up and they follow them just like all the anglers should be doing. In fact I would say that they are helping the fisheries alot more that harming them because while we are out there looking for a few game fish we are also putting the the smack down on the trash fish like the carp. How many anglers while fishing for game fish are taking out the carp at the same time. Slim to none is how many.
Thanks for all the replys on this post. It has been an eye opener for sure. I always new there was bad feelings for the spearfishing sport but not till now did I know just how bad it was. It is simply to bad that we can not all get along and enjoy the waters and what they provide for us. We are pretty lucky to be living in a county that allows us to have so many activities that we can enjoy. Maybe some day we can all get along. Until then I don't see anymore need to beat a dead horse.
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