Why do anglers....?

Question

think it is perfectly harmless to rip a fish out of the water by a metal hook in its mouth or half way down its throat, hand it around their friends and then throw it back in again.

while people who keep fish take lots of extra care not to cause their fish any stress atall, it is even considered stressful to the fish (which can cause them to die) to tap your fingers on the tank, or place it in water 1 or 2 degrees different than what it has been living in.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against angling - I used to love it as a kid and if I had the equipment I would do it again. It's just that the views of anglers and fishkeepers differs so much on how they should be treated.

Answer 1

Most anglers treat fish with respect and aim to do as little damge as possible but these are wild fish used to stress etc unlike tank fish which are totally different and live in a different stress free environment. This is why we have different ideas of fish treatment, although in some circles such as carp fishing we have some of the same ideas in fish care. As a carp angler we use padded mats to lay the fish on, we use anticeptic on the hook wound and on any other sore we see and generally aim to provide the best treatment available to the fish we catch in order to release them in good condition.

I am sure some will say we are barbaric but humans are hunters and this is a form of hunting, here in England most fish are returned alive, and revenue from fishing maintains many miles of water ways and wet land that are santuary for many different forms of wild life and plants. If we didnt fish, this precious conservation of our wild life etc would be lost......or would PETA et al fund it all...i doubt it very much.

Answer 2

You are obviously talking about the bad apples of the fishing world, every group has them and they make the rest look bad.
If you are like most humans you will remember the bad things you see done longer than the good things because they stick out.

When fishing I try not to handle the fish with my hands at all. I use pliers or hook removers to get the hooks out and then return the fish to the water if I am not going to keep it. If the hook is deep in the gills or throat I cut the line to reduce the chances of doing any more damage to the fish.

I have heard the arguments for and against barbless hooks, but it does not matter if the hook is down deep you have to cut the line.

Answer 3

Catch and release, barbless hooks, the fish (especially trout) should not leave the water, angler's hands should always be wet before touching a fish.

Sportsman pay for the vast majority of wildlife habitat in the United States and are the the most active group of conservationists in the world. Furthermore, a fish would MUCH rather be hooked and released than trapped in glass prison for the rest of their lives.

Answer 4

I love fishing and I eat fish by heart. if I see anyone bashing the fish they caught, I swear to bash their heads too! but, I see those passing their time fishing and carefully releasing their catch back in water and sometimes even kisses them. I admit, I do the same. and Shame on those stupid amateur and immature fishers doing it just for fun and killing all their catch by hitting them with anything they could find around them! and sometimes swing the fish and smack to the ground. a horrible and apalling sight to observe. and most of the times that you accost them, you could get into bad arguments.

so if anyone from there is not aware of any angling protocol, back off. if you are interested in this hobby, learn from the veterans, and welcome aboard...

Answer 5

So what is the question here? I don't think it is perfectly harmless, but I am not going to stop. I caught a smallmouth and turned it loose in my friends pond three years ago. Every year I catch it again. I know this cause it is the only smallmouth in the pond.

Answer 6

I eat all the fish I catch. Looks like you have been to PETA's website looking at their recent attack on anglers.

Answer 7

Is crule, in mi cuntery we chuk handt grenade river in, boom fish stun, we grab best won we eat, rest live for baers ant rats. much kint no crule tall. in mi cuntery we cooc fishings fire over eat wit bret, not put bater in like british way or eet cheeps wit. Yu get handt grenade, in mi cuntery we by Army and Airfors store, we no nafy hav no sea, so no neet, yu by Ebay dis cuntery reel chip.