Catch and Release Fishing
 

What are your thoughts regarding catch and release fishing?

Acceptable sport, or unacceptable cruelty? Providing, of course, that the fish are quickly released into the water.



Thank you http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png

I am happy to see fish caught for eating, but not much else ... in fact I'm not keen on any animals being used for "sport" ... but I am not really a sports person OR a fishing person, so probably shouldn't comment!
http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png

Some of the fish in the area are not able to be eaten, would be undersized or part of a programme to rebuild stocks. Although the area in itself is stocked, and permits must be purchased.

So it's less of an ethical issue if we actually eat them? And yet, if we don't eat it, it lives? Hmmm *rubs chin*

Yes, I know http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png
I see it as (in one case) the pain can be justified, by our needing to eat ... but it is hardly defensible, I agree.

I think the onus is on people using the "fish don't feel pain" line to prove that they don't (which I suspect cannot be done, but I'm nothing if not inconsistent http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png)

And I do realise that you haven't said that, but it does come up more often than you'd think.

EDIT ! and to complicate my position, I'd add that if they were feral species then I'd consider it irresponsible NOT to kill them (eat them if possible or recycle them in some way).

Obviously if one catches a protected/unwanted fish, then it must be released.

Injuring/killing things is not what I have in mind when the word recreation is mentioned.

So many fisherpeople handle/release fish harshly ...
I will occasionally throw in a line to catch a fish to eat ..

2058.strip.jpg

I don't eat fish, but I will only fish if someone else is eating it because otherwise this is a bit too close to true. Not that I think fish understand at all, so I'm not that judgmental on those who enjoy fishing catch and release style, but for me there seems to be little point to the whole thing.

Like jj, maybe I just don't understand fishing. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png

For us, it's a way of getting outside to the local (Wivenhoe) dam, in addition to other family activities like kite flying, a BBQ, etc. Other factors would be that I used to fish as a child, and want to pass that on to my children. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png If we actually catch anything, it might be lunch!

But primarily, being a keeper of pet fish which I adore, and catching them for education/sport do seem to be a bit of a juxtaposition.

I can see that too Victoria.
We used to go fishing with our kids ... usually off jetties and beaches ... some of our best hlidays etc etc ... and I lived on an island as a kid, where it was kill a sheep or catch a fish if we wanted meat ... family members were professional fishers a long time ago, so I am not into making big deals about people who see it differently and practise it.

But if the question is asked, I can't bear to shut up http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png

*tries an image*
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/159/41...d03979897e.jpg
Flinders Island 1986 by justjjoke, on Flickr

That looks odd ... maybe this is better?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/justjjoke/412485417/

(It was a meal for 21 that night ... and b'fast the next morning fwiw ... Findlers Island, South Australia)

Firstly, I'll put my stance forward before we begin. I fish recreationally and and happy to do so.

Catch and release is an issue for me, I'm not comfortable with the idea of catching fish simply for the sake of catching them with a view to release. If you don't have a decent use for the fish, why catch it in the first place?

Of course at times I do catch fish that are too small or too large to keep and so I release them. Wet hands so as not to disturb the natural slime on the fish is important, because otherwise there are the risk of infections from damaged scales etc. I would like to think the majority of fish I catch and release suffer no ill effects, but I'll concede that there may be a few who die because of my actions. I weigh that up against my need to eat, the amount of by-catch involved in taking fish commercially (as opposed to recreationally), and the fact that the fish I take doesn't have the same environmental impact as eating those taken commercially (far less effort, fuel and food-miles involved. There is also the fact that my getting a source of protein from fish means I'm not placing as much pressure on other food-sources (caged chooks, feed-lot cattle etc.).

I started a thread on the old forum that deals with parts of this issue.

Catch and release is an issue for me, I'm not comfortable with the idea of catching fish simply for the sake of catching them with a view to release. If you don't have a decent use for the fish, why catch it in the first place? I feel uncomfortable also, but throwing ideas forward would be...teaching my husband and children fishing skills, and education. It's also probably worthwhile mentioning that the dam is stocked. Eating may be an option, but I am unsure as to what % of fish caught would be edible.

As for the handling of fish, I'm pretty confident having both done fishing and also keeping fish as pets. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png


Had a brief look at that thread...I can see it ended well. *cough*

Just people putting forth their 2 cents worth, as they're entitled to do.

A stocked dam eh? What species is it stocked with, Silver Perch maybe?

I think so, also Bass? There was a list, I'm trying to find it now...


Here, http://www.fishingmonthly.com.au/Art...-Lake-Wivenhoe

"

There is an excellent variety of fish stocked by the local fish stocking group, mainly bass, golden perch, silver perch, Mary River cod and saratoga, plus several other species that breed profusely in the lake that include fork-tailed catfish and snub-nosed gar."

And the protected Lungfish.

Good to see they're all natives and hopefully all endemic to your region (I just read your location).

One thing that really p*sses me off is the amount of time, effort and tax-payer money spent breeding feral fish to release into our waterways. I've always wondered what would happen if someone got done for fishing for trout out of season? If it were me, I'd be mounting the defence that I was removing a feral critter from our waterways...

I know my argument won't run, too many vested interests that would put paid to that http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/frown.png

I fish for a feed. I enjoy doing it.

Most anglers with a little experience target a species in a certain size range. This means using appropriate hooks and baits. An increasing number of anglers are using techniques that limit hook damage. These involve things like using barbless hooks, lures and different shaped hooks. It doesn't completely eliminate bycatch but post release mortality can be significantly decreased by using these and other techniques

Woolly, check your email

Thanks for those http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png

My biggest problem with recreational fishing is the disregard for the fish as a living thing. Because they can't scream or show emotion, people can ignore it being a living thing feeling pain.
If you caught rabbits in the same way and had to watch it go mental, screaming, bleeding and hopping for it's life, I'm sure that would be a far less leisurely or popular sport.

I'm fine with fishing for food, but not for fun.

http://www.dolforums.com.au/public/s.../thumbsup1.gif

IAWsb

I have utmost respect for the fish I catch and realise they are living beings (Do you eat cow or chook? How much respect do you pay that?). Whilst not dismissing the fact that fish must feel some type of distress when hooked, I'm not entirely sure you can compare a cold-blooded creature's feelings with those of mammals and other warm-blooded critters (no idea if my argument holds up, happy to be corrected http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png)

I fish for food and for fun. By fun I mean enjoyment, and the enjoyment is the experience, not the act as such. I'll be first to admit there is a certain element of thrill to the hunt, but it's being out and about and seeing other things/places. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in favour of catching fish simply to let them go again. My aim is to catch enough for my immediate needs (1-3 fish), after that I'm happy to give up (concede that I may well catch several undersized/unwanted fish as well).

As teleost has also eluded to, a lot of recent changes in fishing methods, tackle and hook design have also decreased injuries to fish.

When I was four or five, my dad started to take me fishing. I'd get bored in ten minutes and be off lifting rocks to catch crabs or check out huge blood-worms the ol' man would have craved as bait. Without that upbringing, I'm not sure how much I'd care about fish or the environment in general.

I can understand if others don't share my stand, but I just wanted to point out the reasons I fish aren't to satisfy some sadistic urge, and I do respect the animal I catch.