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Truthfully, using the argument that spear fishermen are going to shoot anything close and sink short fish is not fair. Are there a minute amount of guys with total disrespect for the species? Absolutely. But, there are 100 times as many rod and reel guys with the same disrespect as there are spear fishermen. To categorize all spear fishermen as poachers is completely disrespectful and I personally take offense to that.
I spearfish and I r&r fish. I have an enormous amount of respect for the fish and game that I kill. If I killed it, it gets eaten... period. I'm not a trophy hunter or a trophy fishermen. I get a lot of satisfaction from just being on the water or in the woods, and if I can bring something home for the table, then that is a bonus.
I can't understand how some guys have the nerve to tell others that they shouldn't be allowed to spearfish because the species is threatened, and then go out and fish all night, killing at least 10% of their catch in the process. It is completely hypocritical and nonsensical.
Furthermore, I can't stand the argument that spearfishermen will crowd out rod and reel guys. If you want a spot, then get there first. It is that simple. The guy who gets there second has no right to crowd the other person out. It is no different than the canal. People can fish in harmony, or they can be #^&#^&#^&#^&s about it and cause all sorts of problems. I take every possible measure to avoid rod and reel guys when I am in the water. I would hope that they would pay me the same respect.
The bottom line is that I love fishing for bass, whether I do it with a rod or a spear. Unlike the majority of rod and reel guys, I'm not out there praying for the 50 to swim by. I'm out there to relax and hopefully put food on the table. If I want to swim with the fish and choose exactly which fish I want to kill, then I should have that privilege. Just as rod and reel guys have the privilege to kill whichever fish they choose (plus the % that are killed just because they were caught).
The large majority of spearfishermen are good guys, who love and respect the fishery just as much as rod and reel guys. I'm not sure why they are considered the enemy, but those who dislike them should seriously consider reexamining their point of view. I can promise you that the percentage of bad eggs between the rod an reel guys is the same as the spearfishermen. However, EVERY SINGLE GUY that is a "good egg" in both categories kills fish, regardless of whether you are c & r or not. Why not band together and help the species, rather than splitting hairs about how you kill fish?
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