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The number of stripers killed by spearfishermen cannot be 1% of what is killed just by 6-pack charterboats. Those boats go out twice a day, and probably 65% of the time they kill 2 fish per fisherman. Two trips a day. Multiply that by the number of boats that are out there.
Then for ha-has, think about those of us who have our own boats, plus the number of surf-caught fish that are killed.
I started spearfishing last fall, and it's tough (although very fun), because the only method I've ever seen is free-diving (no scuba gear, just holding your breath).
There just aren't enough people doing it, for it to even show up on the radar screen. As someone said, fishermen might practice catch-and-release (which still kills fish), but spearfishermen practice release-and-catch. There is no mortality as a by-product.
I am curious to know why it's illegal in Mass.
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