Why? As long as the limits are observed, what difference does it make how the fish was killed? I think if it's legal to take a fish on a line, it should be legal to take the same fish with a spear.
Well, just an opinion here, and I spearfish a little, how many stories of unprepared divers thinking they are Rambo, are going to go out and try to kill a big grouper and it kills or badly hurts them do you think you'll read about before laws are established to protect those same knuckleheads from themselves. I know plenty of people who think they are spearfishing gods that struggle with a 30 lbs GAG. Those same chest beaters WILL kill themselves or someone else if allowed to legally target them. I saw a hand full of Marlin,Sailfish and easily 1000's of Snook in deep water last year, not allowed to target them either, Lots of species get protected for odd reasons, However.
The days of very few guys ganging up on a big fish are over, Not everyone, but alot of people that have ever been snorkling are going to try it, just to say they did it, some will be successfull most will have sad stories of gear destroyed and worse.
Me personally as a damn near life long spearfisherperson would not like to see these individuals screw up a sport that in places we are barely keeping as it is without what would surely be un-needed bad press.
Any idea what it takes to successfully kill these fish, even a little one say 250 lbs?
Any idea of the logistics in caring for that fish once its dead as to not waste the resource?
I think a recreational tag program and a very limited commercial harvest would be good for the resource and the science of the fish and for sure couldnt hurt the the lobster populations that I see out of sebastian or should I say the lack of lately.
Like I said I'm nobody just a guy that dives as often as possible and I know bad press is not what the spearfishing community needs. Damn, lots of typing I need to go divng bad. Flame away
All that being said, if it swims and I can eat it, I can kill it, but doubt I ever would big ones dont eat well, I hear