Diving and Fishing

[nikos81]

I have afriend who does both. He likes spearfishing most rather than diving. It's just a matter of personal choice. If you find sperafishing boring,then just do the dives and keep on enjoying the sea life

 

[cmburch]

I have a similar problem with rabbits and chickens. We had rabbits when I was a kid. I had no problem butchering them. Now whenever I feed them I pet them and my daughter has named them, so I find it hard to butcher them. (Have not killed any the past 5 years). When I was a kid, there was a woman we purchased the rabbits from that would butchered them for us for a small fee when we had large parties. I hope to find someone to butcher the rabbits. We just use the chickens for eggs and control of snails/insects.

Since I do not pet the fish or name them when diving in the Pacific Ocean, I do not have this problem. I know what tastes good. I like halibut, Ling Cod, Cabezone, abalone, scallops, lobster, crabs, etc. Humans may be predators at heart. There is an exhilaration from spearfishing which is very different from H&L.

I rather pay extra at the store to have someone else do the dirty work of butchering hogs, cattle, sheep, etc.

Communities that do not live off the sea may find fish, shellfish not a main menu item compared to bacon, ground beef, chicken. My daughter enjoys eating fish, crab, lobster, abalone, scallops; but she rarely eats chicken anymore.

I use to do catch and release in the effluent channel (sewage treatment plant outfall) during lunch. It may have been thoughtless and perhaps cruel, but it was fun.

 

[Capt.Ed]

I learned to dive so I could become a better fisherman. I'm a fishing guide and practice catch and release. I also encourage my customers to do the same but if they want to catch and keep something for dinner then I'll let them keep the legal limit. We usually discuss it beforehand because I handle the fish very differently when releasing them verses keeping them. But I also bring a couple home for dinner on nights we want to eat fish.

I used to spearfish when I was younger...probably will again in the future.

But the only reason diving is so much fun for me is that I get to see so much sea life...I'm very protective of it and only take what I can use, when I'm sure I'll actually use it. My goal on every dive is to bring something back with me that doesn't belong in the water; soda can, fouled fishing line, plastic bag, or any other "trash".

I'm sure some tree hugger will want to string me up because I like to fish and really enjoy dropping them in hot grease, but that's the way I see it.

 

[Ghanguss]

Fishing was a family holiday pastime as long as I can remember. I do enjoy fishing still, but rarely do fish. Mainly because of the pressures placed on fish stocks today the guilt of adding to the problem outweighs the enjoyment of fishing.

If Id never taken up diving, i would most likely still fish. Id like to see more fisherman give scuba diving a shot.

If the fish population was allowed to rebuild to sustainable levels however...

 

[BDSC]

I love to do both. Most of my fishing is in the winter off the coast of NC where I do a lot of striper fishing. While we are able to keep two fish per person I generally release them unless someone along with me wants to eat them and they are GOOD!

I will say for some reason after having several interactions and close encounters with groupers in Little Cayman, I seem to avoid eating a fried grouper sandwich now.

Fishing and releasing for sport seems to me to really be bothering the fish, causing them pain.

But given the choice, I'm sure the fish would prefer being bothered and released than being cleaned and fried.

 

[tkdgodess]

I do both. I am going flyfishing all next week. For me it's the experience/relaxation rather than the "thrill" of catching a fish. Beautiful mountain views, the quiet, loons calling, bright stars in the sky, watching the sunrise in a belly boat & waders. I will salmon fish from shore and boat too. I am married to a fisherman, who doesn't eat fish, he just likes the time spent fishing. I eat it if it's big enough, and I rarely keep more than one (if I actually catch one....)

I have gone crabbing while diving, but it was more effort than it was worth, I'd rather go to the market...

 

[BioLogic]

I used to catch and usually release, but I came to consider it unkind and quit. For me personally, lunch is no longer a good enough reason to kill an animal.

I much prefer hanging out with the fish in their own environment -- and if the bluegill bite from time to time, I gotta admit I owe them a few.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I have a similar problem with rabbits and chickens. We had rabbits when I was a kid. I had no problem butchering them. Now whenever I feed them I pet them and my daughter has named them, so I find it hard to butcher them.

When I was a kid we raised rabbits too. For a time they were pets. Then they became food. When they were all grown up we'd kill 'em, skin 'em, butcher 'em, wrap 'em up in freezer paper, write their name on the wrapper and stick 'em in the freezer.

Same rules applied to the pigs and the chickens.

Since I do not pet the fish or name them when diving in the Pacific Ocean, I do not have this problem. I know what tastes good.

See that fish in my avatar? That's Archie.

I do have a habit of naming some fish ... namely the ones who are territorial and don't hang out in schools. I didn't see Archie as food ... but I suspect those dogfish that hang out in the eelgrass beds had other ideas ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[stakanak]

Fishing is an amazing part of our history as intelligent creatures on this planet.
Diving is one of the most wonderful things I have ever done.
I just wish I could find a dive boat that would let me fish or a fishing boat that would let me dive!

 

[Sas]

But given the choice, I'm sure the fish would prefer being bothered and released than being cleaned and fried.

I'm sure given the choice they'd pick neither.