Bad Image for Spearfishermen

[PatMyGreen]

arn't "jewfish" Goliath grouper protected nationwide?

I'll say it one more time, since several people have felt the need to comment without reading the thread in its entirety. Those pics are old, and were perfectly legal when they were taken. In fact the Hell Divers were the first organized group of hunters to stop taking them, well before it was against the law. If only more rec and commercial fishermen had been so longsighted they probably would have not needed to be considered endangered.

I am not trying to paint Rok and his crew as environmentalists, but they do practice conservation and they do care about the resource. They damn sure are not criminals.

 

[magicwanz]

I am not trying to paint Rok and his crew as environmentalists, but they do practice conservation and they do care about the resource. They damn sure are not criminals.

If the pictures painted on that website are your idea of practicing "conservation" and caring for the "resource" then I will happily stay away from your circle. I know other educated spearfisherman and women will agree 100%.

I was fortunate enough to have learned the art of fishing and spearfishing from great role models who enriched a reasonable code of ethics into every cell of my body along the way of the learning process. And for this I am very grateful.

One of the most beneficial "rules of the road" for me has been to never act in a way which results in public disfavor towards our sport and our organization.

I love to spear pelagic fish and I love to travel. When I am a guest in a foreign country I like to feel welcomed when I come to harvest a valuable public resource. Unfortunately, pictures like these do damage our image as sportsman around the world.
:no

 

[DiverBizz]

Well, the title on the website alone is offensive. Regardless whether the photos are old or not to post them as trophies and and post the title Kill for the fun of it shows a lack of respect. If these were not posted for all to see then there is nothing to discuss. Unfortunately, it was posted and many people who disagree with this type of sportsmanship fishing can gather impressions that many spearfishing individuals are all alike.

but they do practice conservation and they do care about the resource.

how about practicing common sense and not post the kill for fun photos or change the title or place a statement this was before not now. This is only my opinion and I did read the posts.

 

[DennisS]

Wow, never heard that term before! do they call themselves that or is it considered derogatory?

honest question, never heard it!

I saw an employment ad in Professional Mariner, it was a supervisory position on an oil drilling platform, it listed about a dozen requirements-one of which was-must speak coonass

 

[PatMyGreen]

If you had read the posts especially where I have given my thanks you'll know that I also don't appreciate the attitude of killing for fun, it is the very definition of sadism in my mind.

However this thread seemed more about attacking and defaming than about general discussion, which is where all of my posts have been directed. I am especially sensitive to the allegations of illegal activity.

Yes their version of conservation is not mainstream but the intent behind it, having a resource for their kids and grand kids, is the same. I know this from personal experience, something not too many people commenting here have, doubly so given the number of people who didn't read the previous posts.

Again I will ask how many of you who care so much about our resource have taken the time to attend the regulatory meetings or have gone to the next level and served on one of it boards? You have a difference of ethical ideologies with Rok, but if you get past the cultural machismo you may find he cares as much for the resource as anyone, just not the same way you do.

Further his website website didn't come to you and force its views on any of you. Hardcore porn is often offensive to me and degrading to the people who partake in it. Knowing that I stay away from hardcore porn sites. Just my $0.02

 

[PatMyGreen]

Unfortunately, pictures like these do damage our image as sportsman around the world.
:no

As much damage as they may do, it is people working their way into a frenzied foaming at the mouth mob without all the facts (or with no regard to them) that tends to be more damaging in my mind. I am quite sure plenty of people with and without higher education will agree with that too.

I have only tried to create more context for these pictures to be placed in.

Further, spearfishing isn't a sport, the idea that it is a sport or entertainment is the basis for Roks view. Spearfishing is hunting, not any sort of noble competition between to evenly match rivals. There is nothing wrong with enjoying it, but it is a slippery slope to call any form of hunting a "sport" in my mind. Usually the other team has to know they are playing.

 

[davidryder]

As much damage as they may do, it is people working their way into a frenzied foaming at the mouth mob without all the facts (or with no regard to them) that tends to be more damaging in my mind. I am quite sure plenty of people with and without higher education will agree with that too.

I have only tried to create more context for these pictures to be placed in.

You aren't the one that needs to be creating context for the pictures. The website is damaging to spearfishing as it is. I think that is the main point.

 

[PatMyGreen]

If that had stayed the topic I would have agreed wholeheartedly, but the thread crossed a line and was getting out of hand. See also it had to be moderated for its content.

 

[Johnoly]

If the pictures painted on that website are your idea of practicing "conservation" and caring for the "resource" then I will happily stay away from your circle.

The "Personal Attacks" in this entire thread on spearos is getting worse and worse as it goes on. This forum is very clear. We are here to help each other with quote " where to hunt, how to hunt, hunting equipment, seafood recipes, tips and techniques, photos, fish tales, and hunting adventures".

I tried to stay out of it but, Nothing in this thread comes even close and the whole thread needs to be deleted or moved to the "Whine & Cheese" forum at a minimum. Most of us come here to help each other with hunting advice.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I also completely disapprove of the image that the website portrays. I am teaching my two pre-teen sons to shoot fish. They know that anything that they kill, they will eat. We do not waste the fish that God created.

They are learning to dispatch the fish quickly, which involves scrambling the brain with a sharp knife. I am trying to instill a respect for the fish. It is not "fun" to kill fish, but it is a challenging underwater activity to stalk, hunt and eventually shoot them with a spear. The actual killing of the fish is not particularly exciting or enjoyable (to me anyway); it is simply a necessary conclusion to the activity. We try to accomplish it as quickly and respectfully as possible.

I aften feel sadness when inserting the knife into the head of a particularly nice fish, but I somehow justify it when I think that most of the fish we shoot have killed many, many smaller fish and this death is probably as humane as anything it would have experienced in the natural world.

Killing for the fun of killing is more representative of a child than the modern spearfisherman.