Dog fishn abuse

[Raider Ronnie]

Catch & release give me a break, do you guys hug a tree after you just released one of them!!!

[basswipe]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

Catch & release give me a break, do you guys hug a tree after you just released one of them!!!

Absolutely!

I just married a tree!!!

[protty31]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

Catch & release give me a break, do you guys hug a tree after you just released one of them!!!

No,but it's showing another living thing a little respect.Beating them up for no reason other than just being mad you caught one is just ignorant.

[Newboater]

Couple of weeks ago the wife, boys and I caught 20 to 25 DogFish at 2KR out of Portsmouth Harbor along with Skates. Why didn't someone tell me about the spikes ? I didn't get spiked but I sure didn't let that tail slap around either. Holding it by tail and just behind the gills I let someone pull the hook out and put the little dirt bags back into the ocean.

Sarge

[Surfcastinglife]

yea those spines are nasty, been hit by them once or twice not being careful, they sure do hurt ;p

and likwid...im not quite sure i understand what your getting at....but thats probably for the best

[MAC]

Back when I was a boat guy we killed every dog we caught. Don't fish bait much now so haven't caught one in a long, long time.

[BrianS]

I havent caught a single one this year.

However, in the past, weve killed them.

I feel worse for the eels when I shove a hook thru their eyesocket.. or various other live bait that we impale and send to its death..

I also feel sorta bad for fish in general that get hooked.
I sometimes feel bad for swatting mosquitos...

Doesnt stop me from any of the above though.

So I go thru my phases where I feel bad for dogfish... but they usually do not last very long.

[flatts1]

For those interested, the following is a proposal I presented to the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission this year. Not only did it pass, but I was thanked for proposing it.

The DMF is working on the final wording...

Best,
Mike Flaherty

Proposal 2 – Prohibit the intentional mutilating or killing of fish that are not kept:

It is common practice for fishermen to mutilate or kill fish that they consider as a "nuisance". This is especially true of dogfish. I've read on the Internet and heard first hand how many folks carry a club on board their boats specifically for this purpose. To the best of my knowledge this practice is legal - but it should not be.

Not only do such species have a valid place in our ecosystem, but one man's junk is another man's treasure.

There is a commercial interest in dogfish that the DMF has long championed on behalf of fishermen displaced from other fisheries. Every fish that is wantonly killed by those who do not target them means less fish for those who do value them – including consumers.

In addition, regardless of what folks may think of the science involved, accepted data lists dogfish as being overfished. Continued indiscriminate killing of dogfish can only hinder their rebuilding.

It is for these reasons that I respectfully request the MMFAC to consider formally prohibiting the intentional killing or mutilating of any fish that is not kept. An obvious exception to this petition would be the necessity of allowing folks to be able to mutilate or kill fish for use as bait.

If I am incorrect and it is in fact presently illegal to purposely kill unwanted fish, then I would recommend that the MMFAC take steps to better inform all fishermen that is the case. Worldwide there are many hungry nations less fortunate than ours. Fishermen in those countries do not have the luxury to view any edible fish as a nuisance, only as nutrition. We can learn a lot from such an ethic.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

Catch & release give me a break, do you guys hug a tree after you just released one of them!!!

No, I'd just rather not see the ecosystem destroyed any further.

But I suppose you think the exploratory drilling out on georges bank is a good idea too?

Thank the reps for slipping that one in the door.