The continuing sagas of the Blue Heron Bridge

[dumpsterDiver]

Flounder at the bridge,, MMM Good..

http://www.youtube.com/user/johnylongfins#p/a/u/0/4jZ-7BJ5Q88

 

[danvolker]

Flounder at the bridge,, MMM Good..

YouTube - johnylongfins's Channel

DD,
As you know, I have been a spearfisherman for over 2 decades. One thing I would NEVER consider would be spearing ( or knifing) fish in an area like BHB, which is morally and functionally used as a marine park. It's just not right. There are plenty of shallow areas where that freediver in the video could have a kick-ass time hunting fish, allowing the growing segment of divers that visit BHB for the experience, to have a better time, rather than a worse time.

How about the South Jetty, or the shallow breakers, or the patch reefs north of Sloans curve...?

 

[pjohnson]

DD,
As you know, I have been a spearfisherman for over 2 decades. One thing I would NEVER consider would be spearing ( or knifing) fish in an area like BHB, which is morally and functionally used as a marine park. It's just not right. There are plenty of shallow areas where that freediver in the video could have a kick-ass time hunting fish, allowing the growing segment of divers that visit BHB for the experience, to have a better time, rather than a worse time.

How about the South Jetty, or the shallow breakers, or the patch reefs north of Sloans curve...?

I agree Dan. I'm all for collecting dinner, but taking anything from BHB is kind of lame.

It does explain why I have been seeing damaged flounder lately though.

 

[trigfunctions]

Flounder at the bridge,, MMM Good..

YouTube - johnylongfins's Channel

What an assclown. These people should be ostracized.

 

[danvolker]

I agree Dan. I'm all for collecting dinner, but taking anything from BHB is kind of lame.

It does explain why I have been seeing damaged flounder lately though.

I know....And you really don't want to see something like this at the park.

Back in the 80's and 90's, I used to spearfish from Frank Hammett's boat....this was the boat that had all the hunter-killers, including Pat Frain, the guy who made Ultimate Spearguns and the disposable powerheads....Even in a group like this, there was agreement about where we should "not" shoot....Back then, the charter boat captains ( the group out of Palm Beach Inlet---like 15 or so of them) , agreed that no one should drop spearfisherman on the Mispah, or the other major wrecks used to drop tourists and typical recreational divers on...these were places that were supposed to be spectacular, and of all people, we as divers could appreciate why these wrecks needed to be no shooting zones....there were plenty of deeprer wrecks or 80 foot deep barges we could shoot on, where our activities would not adversely effect the experiences of others.... Even Pat was fine with this...and I could tell you stories about some of his exploits that would put PETA types into a neurotic meltdown


So what is the problem now...how can we have "real" divers ( real freedivers) that are not aware of all the cool places they can hunt, and are also not aware of how uncool it is to shoot in an area like BHB?
If the the guy with the knife in the video is a brand new freediver, then you can understand ( kind of) a one time transgression, and then someone like Dumpster Diver explains to them that this is like a Petting Zoo, and you don't go to a Petting Zoo to hunt and kill animals.....
If it would help, I would even organize a "snorkel boat" charter for freedivers to sample a bunch of the hot spots for freedive spearfishing....I could probably get this as a very cheap rate, given the purpose, and the reason for it needs to happen...I am thinking maybe $30 per head or something like this...that's what I would try for.

I want these freedivers to have fun, I just want it to be outside of the petting zoo that they actually hunt things

 

[Shcubasteve]

Flounder at the bridge,, MMM Good..

YouTube - johnylongfins's Channel

That is awesome! I see nothing wrong with what happened in the video. These guys don't seem to be commercial fisherman and will probably bring that fish home to their families and have it for dinner. It maybe like shooting fish in a barrel as some point out and could be morally wrong for other folks and to them I will honestly and sincerely say that I am sorry for hurting your feelings. BUT the fact remains that no laws were broken and someone's rights to harvest recreational amounts of fish should not be infringed upon just because someone doesn't agree with underwater hunting. I would have been sad/upset too if the fish got away with a mortal wound but they landed it whole.

Whats the difference if they went over to the west side of the channel and did the same thing? Fish do swim

 

[adurso]

What an assclown. These people should be ostracized.

And what will ostracizing someone do?

 

[djtimmy77]

It actually is not legal...too close to the public fishing pier...

 

[Splitlip]

BUT the fact remains that no laws were broken and someone's rights to harvest recreational amounts of fish should not be infringed upon just because someone doesn't agree with underwater hunting.

At least one law was broken. Spearing within 100 yards of a fishing pier.

The entire area is essentially off limits to hunting. 100 yards east of the pier puts you within a hundred yards of the swim area. The East span has a 100 yard no spear zone as well., because the same rules apply to a bridge used for fishing.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

At least one law was broken. Spearing within 100 yards of a fishing pier.The entire area is essentially off limits to hunting. 100 yards east of the pier puts you within a hundred yards of the swim area. The East span has a 100 yard no spear zone as well., because the same rules apply to a bridge used for fishing.

I didn't see any spearfishing gear or anything illegal in that video???