Is fishing for fun cruel?

Is fishing for fun cruel?

Author
Discussion

HertsBiker

Original Poster:

6,357 posts

276 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
quotequote all
I think it is. Can't see how it can be anything other than cruel. If I put a metal hook in a cat ot dogs mouth and dragged them underwater it would be an outrage. So why do we allow it to happen to fish? Please discuss...

slopes

39,861 posts

192 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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I don't know so much about cruel, but IMHO it's boring beyond belief*



*flamesuit on

Smiler.

11,752 posts

235 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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Fishing not for fun is crueller.

It's really boring staring at the end of your rod when nothing is happening wink

Jasandjules

70,410 posts

234 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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I think it is cruel yes.

SC7

1,882 posts

186 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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I don't really think there is any definitive answer as to whether it's cruel or not, but what I will say is (I'm an avid Carp fisherman) that you would probably be surprised how we value and care for the creatures we fish for.

The fight and landing of the fish may well be "cruel", but after that they are treated and cared for very well.

Also, I know it doesn't really matter, but a large percentage of fish are bred solely for the purpose of angling.

Olf

11,974 posts

223 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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Well known fact that most serial killers are fishermen.

The Jolly Todger

2,744 posts

185 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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It isn't cruel. The comparison with cats and dogs is invalid.

JBM78

371 posts

185 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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Olf said:
Well known fact that most serial killers are fishermen.
..and vice-versa?

ybt1982

2,637 posts

205 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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Depends, IMHO if it's just catch and release then yes, as well as pointless, but if you are fishing to eat then no.

dave_s13

13,859 posts

274 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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I don't really care.

I do like fish and chips though.

If fishing were outlawed in a similar way to fox hunting the divorce rate would rise dramatically, that's crueller.

Parsnip

3,132 posts

193 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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Is it cruel if I smash Mr.fishies head in and then wave him about in a threatening manner shouting "you are next" to the other fish in the water, with full intention of giving him a light cremation with some butter and lemon?

If something is big enough to eat, it gets its head stoved in and fileted later. If it is small it has the choice of staying still and behaving while I get the hook out or joining its bigger brother in the pan later.

wiffmaster

2,607 posts

203 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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The Jolly Todger said:
It isn't cruel. The comparison with cats and dogs is invalid.
Well, I'm not going to argue with evidence like that.

Changedmyname

12,545 posts

186 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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ybt1982 said:
Depends, IMHO if it's just catch and release then yes, as well as pointless, but if you are fishing to eat then no.
This I agree with^^xmas

warch

2,941 posts

159 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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Olf said:
Well known fact that most fishermen look like sex attackers .
Edited for accuracy...

Changedmyname

12,545 posts

186 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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Parsnip said:
Is it cruel if I smash Mr.fishies head in and then wave him about in a threatening manner shouting "you are next" to the other fish in the water, with full intention of giving him a light cremation with some butter and lemon?

If something is big enough to eat, it gets its head stoved in and fileted later. If it is small it has the choice of staying still and behaving while I get the hook out or joining its bigger brother in the pan later.
And this is the funny answer.xmas

Jem0911

4,415 posts

206 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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I don't fish.
But cruel?

Ask the fish?

dundarach

5,282 posts

233 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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I've fished in the north sea, for fun...yes I guess it is!

However would very much love to fish for cats - is there anywhere I can go smile

Liokault

2,837 posts

219 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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Yes, it’s cruel; fish do feel pain from hooking and are very stressed by the whole experience. It is very easy to find examples of fish that have changed their behaviour because of the stress of being caught.

Fundamentally, if you are doing this for fun, its cruel.

miniman

25,940 posts

267 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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This is cruel:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3976244/...

I rather think society should direct its ire towards people like this, rather than chaps in extra long wellies hooking a few perch out of a river.

anonymous-user

59 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
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no, its not cruel

sure, the hook, fight, out of the water bit must be in some way unpleasant for the fish but, given that many live to fight many other days, it can't do a lot of lasting damage

as a pastime, it can do a lot of good

consider the work done by the guys at places like angling projects, that keeps a lot of kids off the street and points aspects of their lives in a better direction than it otherwise might have gone

it also results in a lot of good being done for rivers, canals, ponds etc.

consider the work done by the thames angling conservancy, they have, at the very least, removed a lot of litter from the river bank