Do you go fishing?

[psariandras]

do you keep fish as pets and go sport fishing also? Some people argue that sport fishing is cruel, others that it is okay.

I used to go sport fishing when I was younger, not sure if I am right or not but I feel different about it now.

Generally it seems people assert that using fish to cycle tanks if you know they will die is wrong or not taking care of fish is wrong, so is sport fishing wrong? I mean even if you are catch and releasing the bait fish are going to die.

If you have a tank full of small fish and then when you go sport fishing with minnows or some bait that resembles your pet fish, does it make you feel sorry for the fish you catch or use as bait?

I am not trying to assert a view either way, but I am curious to know what other peeps think about it.

[KingOfTheDeep]

i go fishing just about every night..most people who keep fish are also fisherman..cant say i feel sorry for the bait or fish i use though..i fish strictly catch and realease unless its a record catch, and i use pre-killed bait and plastics

[TropicalNorth]

I go fishing pretty often and enjoy it, but I'm not a huge fan of trophy fishing (like marlin). I fish mainly just because I like to eat fresh fish and because I just like being out on the ocean; dolphins, turtles, blue sky, scenery I could go on forever :).

Sometimes I feel sorry for the fish but I figure its no different to a predator, like a shark, killing and eating them so I don't think it's cruel.

[J double R]

been a fisherman LONG before i was a fishkeeper.

and yes, sometimes, i'll eat my catch. otherwise, it goes back.

[Coler]

well...sometimes I like to hook a toaster up to the cigarette lighter in my car and toss it in a stream.

does that count ?

[psariandras]

the toaster in the water is good. throwing dynamite into the water is good also

[psariandras]

I want to go deep sea fishing.

[S.A.]

Yes we fish :) I find it to be even more relaxing than watching my tanks:)

We catch and release, unless it is a sizable trout. Then it goes well with steamed veggies and red potato.

[Dangerdoll]

I love fishing, freshwater, saltwater, anything that involves throwing the hook in the water. I've never eaten anything I've caught though, I always threw it back however, I hear fluke is pretty good and totally in season now.

[Coler]

I like to catch them small, then keep them and feed them up into a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge fish and then knock them on the head and have them mounted and then tell people I caught them like that.

[mcox3]

I go fishing... rarely catch anything... :silly:

Its relaxing and I enjoy 4wheeling while im out there aswell.

anyways, catch and release... dont feel bad for bait...

the worms that make it go to my oscars anyways.

and we've also used a minnow trap for feeders.

[kuhliloach]

no, i think sport fishing is cruel

[suepahfly]

I like going fishing. I usually keep anything that is a legal size to eat. Can't beat fresh fish.

[12 Volt Man]

I fish all the time. when on vacation in warm destinations, and here in Lake Ontario and our other lakes in northern ontario.

I am also a tackleholic.

[clown-lover]

I grew up fishing and hunting. As a child it was more to put food on the table than for sport. Now the fishing is for sport however I do still hunt but eat everything I bring down.

I do sometimes bring home the occasional fish and put it on the Barbi with a little blackening spice..

[Slappy*McFish]

I love fishing...especially saltwater. Fish that you catch and clean yourself just taste better.

[Plecosterone]

Nothing beats floating around in a canoe with a line in the water. I haven't been fishing for the last few years, but used to go to Northern Ontario. Man is that country up there. More clear lakes than anywhere else in the world.

[Toirtis]

I fish every chance that I get...both hardbait casting and fly-fishing...been doing so since I was 5.

[psariandras]

my favorite tasting fish is crappie. haven't had it in years but it was great tasting. We caught a whole bunch of them near a beaver dam. That was a lot of fun. Seemed like one would bite just about as soon as you threw in the hook, our livewell was full that day. I don't go fishing anymore though. not enough time and money unfortunately.

Toirtis, I have to ask, b/c I am interested in odd fishes - what is the strangest fish you have kept/seen? My favorite sort are eel like fish that are very large, I almost got a dragon goby but didnt have the tank for it.
I like strange looking fishes, I am sure you must have seen many strange fishes in the past few decades of being an aquarist.

[KingOfTheDeep]

no, i think sport fishing is cruel

:nutkick:

[mcox3]

I went fishing this past weekend. Smallmouth B's and Redear Sunfish like you wouldnt believe. Nothing big.

[swinneyw]

fishing is my favorite sport and tropical fish is my favorite hobby i don't let one interfer with the other

[Cheech]

I absolutely love fishing... It's more of the idea of getting out of the city and leaving all my everyday issues behind.

All I gotta figure out now is how to actually catch fish.

[cellodaisy]

well...sometimes I like to hook a toaster up to the cigarette lighter in my car and toss it in a stream.

does that count ?


I like to catch them small, then keep them and feed them up into a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge fish and then knock them on the head and have them mounted and then tell people I caught them like that.

Seriously?

[excuzzzeme]

I fish as much as I can get in. I use cut-bait, frozen bait, nightcrawlers, artificial - (metal, plastic, or rubber). A bad day of fishing is better than a good day trapped in the house.

Everything is catch, and release (always has been) except for what I will eat.

[beeZer350]

I love to go fishing. Every summer my father-in-law and I head up to Lake Erie for perch/walleye fishing. Always a good time. I try to get out to local lakes a few times a month during the summer but I'm not always successful at that.

This past winter I tried ice fishing for the first time. It was a lot more fun that I thought it would be.

I quick shot of our set up:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/enriquejcu/IMG00190.jpg

What I landed:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/enriquejcu/IMG00191.jpg

Since becoming a somewhat serious fish keeper I've researched ways to humanely kill the fish once caught, rather than letting them languish in a cooler until I finish my day. One method I've discovered is to puncture them right behind the eye. This apparently yields instant, painless death. There are a few benefits to doing this as well. For one, the fish doesn't suffer and also it prevents the build up of lactic acid in the tissue which can affect the taste of the meat.

[LeahK]

Here's an interesting article. It's a scientific study of various catch-and-release methods, with information on which ones are the most effective and/or humane: http://www.acuteangling.com/Reference/C&RMortality.html
It says, for example, to reduce fish mortality rates, 1) you should use artificial bates, 2) if artificial bates are not possible, you should use circle hooks instead of J-hooks, and 3) you should use a Boga-grip tool, not a net, to land the fish.

(I'll be honest--I'm a vegetarian, and I don't fish :). But I was reading this thread and realized that a lot of people who keep fish as pets also go sport fishing. And I figured that, despite our differences, we're all interested in keeping fish ecosystems healthy and treating fish as humanely as possible, which are the main benefits of catch-and-release. So I thought I'd share an article that all you anglers might find interesting and useful. Cheers!)

[fancyfishgirl]

ok so i haven't been fishing in YEARS! My dad and I used to go out and go deep sea fishing. I liked it...it was nice to be out on the ocean and I loved eating the fish we caught. Do i think it's cruel to go fishing just to catch and release? meh...maybe...depends on the type of hool your using etc.. Do I think it's cruel to catch fish just to mount them on your wall? absolutlly! But I can say that fishing is uber relaxing!

[bettagurl]

I used to love it, but as I got older I realized how completely cruel it was for me to hook something through it's mouth when I have plenty of food at home, or simply for my enjoyment if it's going to be released.
If you need to kill these creatures because food is too expensive for you, then go ahead.. But I won't fish again, I don't NEED to to live.

I'm the same with hunting, and a lot of people do live mostly on what they kill, so no problem if you need the meat.

[red_wall]

I really do like fishing... when I catch something.
I just hate how you can never control where the hook goes.
It PAINS me to see a hook through the eye, when I know there isn't anything I can do about it.
But it's only happened once to me, more to people I know though.
I only use bread :]
All hail the mighty channel cat, and brim catcher!

[daclozer]

I used to love it, but as I got older I realized how completely cruel it was for me to hook something through it's mouth when I have plenty of food at home, or simply for my enjoyment if it's going to be released.
If you need to kill these creatures because food is too expensive for you, then go ahead.. But I won't fish again, I don't NEED to to live.

I'm the same with hunting, and a lot of people do live mostly on what they kill, so no problem if you need the meat.

Somebody somewhere killed what is in your fridge, so I have a hard time with your statements about it being cruel. So it is ok for something to get killed for you to eat as long as you don't have to do it yourself? The cow that was smacked in the head with a hammer and had its throat cut so you could have a nice steak did not have a fighting chance, the fish on the other end of the line does. And when I take him off of the hook, he swims away and is chasing bait fish 5 minutes later. So, unless you are a vegan you are a hypochrite.:hitting:

Biologists have documented that fish do not feel pain. There mouths are cartilage, there are no nerves to transmit pain. Humans are omnivores, we are designed to eat meat. Is it cruel for bears to eat salmon?

[RisiganL.]

I fish ALL the time. My two favorite things in the world are keeping aquariums and fishing.

[fishnfvr]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE fishing....as you can see by my avatar - lol The sturgeon in my avatar is my biggest to date - 8 ft 2"
We are out on the river at least 3 times a week...( Sturgeon is my favorite it is a total catch and release fishery ) -
But I also love fishing for all the local/ in season salmon varieties - sockeye, chum, pink, coho and steelhead....etc. :thumbsup:

[BrainLady]

LOL. I can't even watch people fish. My sons fish and they are not allowed to bring any fish home. I just feel bad for the fish.

[wesleydnunder]

I fish every chance I get; freshwater, in the bay and offshore. I eat what I catch. My favorites are fresh crappie and flounder.

Mark

[user_name]

I fish all the time, but I only do catch and release. I also catch my own bait, for some reason it makes me feel better about killing the bait fish.

[fishboy7]

Yes, I fish in lakes, ponds, and streams all the time. I take home and eat some of the fish I catch. Yes, sometimes I feel bad for the fish and bait fish, but to me it's no different from eating chicken. (It didn't come from a magical meat machine you know!)

[shaynablizard]

I used to love it, but as I got older I realized how completely cruel it was for me to hook something through it's mouth when I have plenty of food at home, or simply for my enjoyment if it's going to be released.
If you need to kill these creatures because food is too expensive for you, then go ahead.. But I won't fish again, I don't NEED to to live.

I'm the same with hunting, and a lot of people do live mostly on what they kill, so no problem if you need the meat.
I'm exactly the same. I can't comprehend the enjoyment in taking another awesome creature's life. Catch and release fishing seemed like a good idea to me - until years ago one swallowed the hook and I cried. That's the last time I fished.
I think I'll just stay home and look at my fish tanks.

[dirtydawg10]

I love to fish! I fish any chance I get. I also love my aquarium fish. Most of the time I use artificial lures except when I fish with my kids or if I ice fish I sometimes use minnows. When I freshwater fish, 99% of the time I catch and release but on occasion I'll take a fish dinner home. When I deep sea fish for cod, haddock and pollock if it is legal size I stock my freezer with fillets.

[nonamesleft47]

Not badmouthing some of you here but like someone said, unless you are vegan, live in a 100% eco friendly house and peddle your bicycle to school or work don't feel superior. Fish are a lower order of animals. They have limited capacity to feel and do not "think" as we do. Although they struggle when caught they do not feel pain as we feel it. If you eat fish sticks, hamburger or any meat at all please don't respond saying fishing is cruel. In that train of thought so is capturing fish in the wild, moving them thousands of miles to live out their life in a small fish tank for the remainder of their life.

Personally I love to fish. Went today. 5 of us caught 24 trout and 2 sauger. We cleaned them and will enjoy them later this week. I was taught from an early age where my food comes from and have no qualms about it. I do not eat store bought hamburger and rarely eat wild fish out. Because I have worked in both commercial fishing operations and slaughter houses and know what happens in the real world. If you want to do something you can feel good about stop eating shrimp. Commercial shrimping destroys many more non-target animals than shrimp.

fishnfvr, where are you catching the sturgeon? I would love to catch one. The closest we can get is snagging paddlefish although we do eat them...

[fishnfvr]

Not badmouthing some of you here but like someone said, unless you are vegan, live in a 100% eco friendly house and peddle your bicycle to school or work don't feel superior. Fish are a lower order of animals. They have limited capacity to feel and do not "think" as we do. Although they struggle when caught they do not feel pain as we feel it. If you eat fish sticks, hamburger or any meat at all please don't respond saying fishing is cruel. In that train of thought so is capturing fish in the wild, moving them thousands of miles to live out their life in a small fish tank for the remainder of their life.

Personally I love to fish. Went today. 5 of us caught 24 trout and 2 sauger. We cleaned them and will enjoy them later this week. I was taught from an early age where my food comes from and have no qualms about it. I do not eat store bought hamburger and rarely eat wild fish out. Because I have worked in both commercial fishing operations and slaughter houses and know what happens in the real world. If you want to do something you can feel good about stop eating shrimp. Commercial shrimping destroys many more non-target animals than shrimp.

fishnfvr, where are you catching the sturgeon? I would love to catch one. The closest we can get is snagging paddlefish although we do eat them...

EXACTLY - Unless you are a TRUE vegetarian - you should not bash fishing.... seems a little hypocritical - and I sure hope none of you eat salmon out of a can or tuna for that matter - lol

nonamesleft - we fish the Fraser river.... tagged over 300 sturgeon (this year) - all catch and release... we volunteer for the Rick Hansens Fraser river sturgeon conservation society.... If you have never caught a sturgeon - DO get out and try it - it is a blast! You would not believe their strength! and put on such a show... when you see a 8 foot sturgeon jumping completely out of the water - it is an awesome site! Definitely MY FAVORITE fish to fish for...

[excuzzzeme]

I think if someone has a problem with us that like to fish, you should start your own thread and leave this one alone. Thank you.


In the meantime this is one I got over the summer:
Bluefish
146736

I love the fight and the meat. Long Island Sound, friend's backyard.

[2rivers]

The only reason I still live in NH is for the clean cold waters. My father was a dip**** so I struck-out into nature and have been fishin since I could walk. Its my life.

[dirtydawg10]

Great looking bluefish, excuzzzeme!

[Felf808]

I've been shore casting since I was 5 and deep sea fishing/diving since I was 8, so I've been at it for about 20 years total. Nothing beats hearing a Marlin strip a couple hundred yards of line off a reel in less than a minute. I haven't had time to go in recent years, so I've been surfing and aquascaping but still...nothing compares. As far as food vs sport, I do both because my family has been doing it for generations, we live on an island, and they taste good. My biggest fish to date is a 450lb blue marlin, but I'm afraid that I will not be seeing or hearing of any that big in the future which is sadly making me reconsider continuing my favorite hobby :(

[excuzzzeme]

Overall, I think you will find fishermen and hunters to be more ecologically aware than non-sportsmen. No, not all sportsmen, as there are jerks in every crowd that take from nature just for the heck of it. They harvest and waste without thought to the future. It's no different than having the person that keeps goldfish in a desk bowl. No matter how much you educate them they will refuse to change their ways.

(There are also many people that catch fish and give them away to soup kitchens and such.)

[nonamesleft47]

Great looking bluefish, excuzzzeme!


That's a nice one! Used to catch alot of blues in NC during the summers I spent there. Been fishing Florida the last few years, few blues around. A couple of years ago we got there on the tail end of a big storm. The water was pure mud. The pier was deserted but we went anyway. The water was full of blues and black tip sharks. None of the families we were with had eaten bluefish before. I made believers out of them. Bluefish and blacktip steaks on the grill, nothing better!

[GraphicGr8s]

I keep fish and I love to fish. Love to eat fish too. Got so into fishing I started building my own rods because I couldn't find what I liked in stores. Love to spearfish too. Way to many expensive hobbies I have. Love using artificials. 99% Saltwater fishing. Too bad my boat hasn't see saltwater in 11 years. Now it's pier fishing and wading as of late. Gas is too expensive for the boat. Back then it would cost $50 just in fuel. Imagine that would be over 200 now. (Between the boat and the tow vehicle anyway)

[fshfanatic]

I hit the local ponds every night with the 3wt fly rod for a couple hours. Every once and awhile my sons or I will bring home a couple gills or a small bass to release in our pond. Been flyfishing and fly tying for over 30 yrs.

[Dericwillsen]

Yes I love fishing and whenever I get a chance I used to go with my uncle for fishing. It is a nice experience. I am enjoying fishing.

[Adrien07]

Not really but I used to go with my dad when I was young and we had good time.

[Bassasin]

Not badmouthing some of you here but like someone said, unless you are vegan, live in a 100% eco friendly house and peddle your bicycle to school or work don't feel superior. Fish are a lower order of animals. They have limited capacity to feel and do not "think" as we do. Although they struggle when caught they do not feel pain as we feel it. If you eat fish sticks, hamburger or any meat at all please don't respond saying fishing is cruel. In that train of thought so is capturing fish in the wild, moving them thousands of miles to live out their life in a small fish tank for the remainder of their life.

Personally I love to fish. Went today. 5 of us caught 24 trout and 2 sauger. We cleaned them and will enjoy them later this week. I was taught from an early age where my food comes from and have no qualms about it. I do not eat store bought hamburger and rarely eat wild fish out. Because I have worked in both commercial fishing operations and slaughter houses and know what happens in the real world. If you want to do something you can feel good about stop eating shrimp. Commercial shrimping destroys many more non-target animals than shrimp.

fishnfvr, where are you catching the sturgeon? I would love to catch one. The closest we can get is snagging paddlefish although we do eat them...

+1000 theres a reason why fish bare 1million plus young per couple. AND HOLY FREAKIN WHITE STURGEON!!!!!

[Muscleman]

I go fishing once a month, it’s one of my favorite hobbies too. These types of things are entertainment and thinking in your way is not so suitable for these kinds of sports.