Respect For Fish

[ozark trout fisher]

I have noticed a significant lack of respect in fisherman for the fish they catch lately, and I think that violates the very essence of what we're out there for. On the water today, I saw a couple of guys out in a bass boat, catch a beautiful 3 pound bass, and proceed to scream booyah a hundred times and throw it on a stringer. I'm am not a rabid catch and release fisherman. I would have preferred to have seen the fish released, but I would not have been offended if the fish had been respectfully and humanely killed. But I guess what got me was all the whooping it up. It shows a total lack of respect for the fish's life. When you pull a fish out of one world into the next, into a realm in which it is entirely frightened and cannot breath, it is only right to treat it with the proper sympathy and respect. Fish have no sporting instincts whatsoever, and while we fish for them, we must always keep that in mind. Which is to say it is perfectly okay to fish, and even keep fish from time to time, because we have been predators for thousands of years. It is in our nature, and it's only right that we continue to do it. It's just that we need to have respect for fellow living creatures that are just trying to get by.

I apologize for the rant. I just had to say something to someone.

[Dutch]

The crap you just described is why I quit watching fishing shows on TV.

[ozark trout fisher]

The crap you just described is why I quit watching fishing shows on TV.

Me too.

[fozzie.]

I have noticed a significant lack of respect in fisherman for the fish they catch lately, and I think that violates the very essence of what we're out there for. On the water today, I saw a couple of guys out in a bass boat, catch a beautiful 3 pound bass, and proceed to scream booyah a hundred times and throw it on a stringer. I'm am not a rabid catch and release fisherman. I would have preferred to have seen the fish released, but I would not have been offended if the fish had been respectfully and humanely killed. But I guess what got me was all the whooping it up. It shows a total lack of respect for the fish's life. When you pull a fish out of one world into the next, into a realm in which it is entirely frightened and cannot breath, it is only right to treat it with the proper sympathy and respect. Fish have no sporting instincts whatsoever, and while we fish for them, we must always keep that in mind. Which is to say it is perfectly okay to fish, and even keep fish from time to time, because we have been predators for thousands of years. It is in our nature, and it's only right that we continue to do it. It's just that we need to have respect for fellow living creatures that are just trying to get by.

I apologize for the rant. I just had to say something to someone.

Not to mention those fish were likely just getting ready to spawn...

I feel ya though, I guess it's just a matter of values. I've seen lots of things afield which make me shake my head- one of the things that always makes me wince are the obligatory "dump the fish on the gravel/rocks/grass/dirt/dry leaves next to my rod," photos. But at the same time, I feel everyone has the right to use the resource to their enjoyment, so long as they're not doing damage to said resource.

[smallmouthjoe]

I have noticed a significant lack of respect in fisherman for the fish they catch lately, and I think that violates the very essence of what we're out there for. On the water today, I saw a couple of guys out in a bass boat, catch a beautiful 3 pound bass, and proceed to scream booyah a hundred times and throw it on a stringer. I'm am not a rabid catch and release fisherman. I would have preferred to have seen the fish released, but I would not have been offended if the fish had been respectfully and humanely killed. But I guess what got me was all the whooping it up. It shows a total lack of respect for the fish's life. When you pull a fish out of one world into the next, into a realm in which it is entirely frightened and cannot breath, it is only right to treat it with the proper sympathy and respect. Fish have no sporting instincts whatsoever, and while we fish for them, we must always keep that in mind. Which is to say it is perfectly okay to fish, and even keep fish from time to time, because we have been predators for thousands of years. It is in our nature, and it's only right that we continue to do it. It's just that we need to have respect for fellow living creatures that are just trying to get by.

I apologize for the rant. I just had to say something to someone.

I couldn't agree more.

[eric1978]

I've seen lots of things afield which make me shake my head- one of the things that always makes me wince are the obligatory "dump the fish on the gravel/rocks/grass/dirt/dry leaves next to my rod," photos.

[FishinCricket]

Meh, ya buncha whiners!

Check out this video on YouTube:

That fish made it back into the drink okay... But I forgot to scream "Boooyah!".. I knew I was forgetting something..

[FishinCricket]

Ya knoW, I was just gonna leave it at the smart alleck comment, but I'm baffled by the OP and the attitude of some of you OAF'ers..

If you truly respected the fish with the type of reverence you mention, why do you fish in the first place? You dangle a fake piece of food in front of them, drag them forcibly from their homes into a world that immediately begins to kill them, you'd think the least you could do is put the danged thing out of it's misery! But no, you torture it and then put it back.. Why? SO THAT HOPEFULLY SOMEONE ELSE CAN TORTURE IT TOO!

The fisherman spends hundreds on gear, thousands on the boat, hours tying a fly or crafting a popper, years honing his skills with the equipment, countless time contemplating the eventuality of catching that monster fish.. And when it happens he's supposed to smile quietly and either quickly put it back (making sure to not touch it or bump it against anything), or quietly and respectfully say a prayer and slice it's throat?

I don't think I'll be posting any more fishing reports here, I obviously don't respect the fish enough..

[Bubbas Dad]

Ya knoW, I was just gonna leave it at the smart alleck comment, but I'm baffled by the OP and the attitude of some of you OAF'ers..

If you truly respected the fish with the type of reverence you mention, why do you fish in the first place? You dangle a fake piece of food in front of them, drag them forcibly from their homes into a world that immediately begins to kill them, you'd think the least you could do is put the danged thing out of it's misery! But no, you torture it and then put it back.. Why? SO THAT HOPEFULLY SOMEONE ELSE CAN TORTURE IT TOO!

The fisherman spends hundreds on gear, thousands on the boat, hours tying a fly or crafting a popper, years honing his skills with the equipment, countless time contemplating the eventuality of catching that monster fish.. And when it happens he's supposed to smile quietly and either quickly put it back (making sure to not touch it or bump it against anything), or quietly and respectfully say a prayer and slice it's throat?

I don't think I'll be posting any more fishing reports here, I obviously don't respect the fish enough..

NO DOUGHT MAN. I have never once had any one tell me not to keep a legal fish while we were standing next to each other on the bank. Only where they can hide behind there keyboards and eat there TOFU. I am a member of PETA too. "PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS" I am on my way now to "TORTURE" some poor innocent fishies, someone get the oil hot.

[solus_vero]

I have noticed a significant lack of respect in fisherman for the fish they catch lately, and I think that violates the very essence of what we're out there for. On the water today, I saw a couple of guys out in a bass boat, catch a beautiful 3 pound bass, and proceed to scream booyah a hundred times and throw it on a stringer. I'm am not a rabid catch and release fisherman. I would have preferred to have seen the fish released, but I would not have been offended if the fish had been respectfully and humanely killed. But I guess what got me was all the whooping it up. It shows a total lack of respect for the fish's life. When you pull a fish out of one world into the next, into a realm in which it is entirely frightened and cannot breath, it is only right to treat it with the proper sympathy and respect. Fish have no sporting instincts whatsoever, and while we fish for them, we must always keep that in mind. Which is to say it is perfectly okay to fish, and even keep fish from time to time, because we have been predators for thousands of years. It is in our nature, and it's only right that we continue to do it. It's just that we need to have respect for fellow living creatures that are just trying to get by.

I apologize for the rant. I just had to say something to someone.

HA ! ROTFL ! Man, OH MAN ! That is probably the funnest thing I've heard in a long, long time !!!

I keep coming back to one thought ,,, IT'S A FRIGGING FISH !!!!

And you all think - I"M A NUT ?!!!!!