I'd like to add something Charlie,
Although some take tunas for ego (small percentage in my opinion), most take tunas because they provide a large amount of food and can feed a small army of people. They are a great eating fish and despite overfishing and, resulting bycatch being farmed and reproduce at a normal rate.
Sharks and rays on the other hand usually take a while to reproduce, some reaching sexual maturity at the age of 10 yrs (lesser dogfish shark). Rays and sharks take longer to reach sexual maturity then most fishes.
Rays also provide little substinance with there meat. There is a lot of prep-work involved and it's a shame that a 100#+ animal has to die for a pretty small meal. A Tuna around the same size would provide foom for a family if it had to for a few days atleast.
With that being said, if you wish to hunt Rays, that's your choice. It's an unpopular opinion that is not supported by many in here. Regardless of that you are free to hunt what you wish for whatever reason you wish.
You said that you knew of people that hunted them for food and claimed that they were hard to hunt. If i made my living hunting rays for food i would also claim that they are hard to hunt. Your talking about a fish that spends it's day lying on the ocean floor relativly motionless and will practically allow you to touch it before it flees. It lacks the camoflage of fishes like the halibut and flounders, sanddabs, etc (fishes that also provide a large ammount of meat and are not cartaligenous). I'v seen new divers take rays with pole spears before, so unless there extreemly large, they can't be that hard.
If you were taking the odd ray here and there for food then i don't think there would be such a bad reaction, but i believe the disturbing thing to many is that you are getting into this with the preconception that this be your target fish.
Now with all that said. I will give you the advice you asked for. Sorry but i had to get my two sense in, as i too have the freedom of choice and speech and this is a multinational forum. I have lived in 7 different countries myself and consider myself worldly and wanted to share my views on the matter. I Welcome you to the forums and hope you ge the chance to talk to some of the great hunters in here, people like Miles, Allison Shadowkiller, Huan, Sven and the rest of the gang and learn from them and read there past posts. There great.
Hey Spearos,
This has turned into a debate, somewhat personal. From my first post you can clearly see that these were not my intentions. It was a genuine question of gear and I believe that I posted under the right forum: "Hunting Equpment".
With that being said, I am a first time poster on this board and do not want to make my introduction one of argument . I can respond to this post and other posts that I consider to be intolerant based on assumptions,preconceptions, arrogance, imbalanced views pertaining to what is fair game. I would prefer not to because it will become personal for those involved and can only lead to bad feelings. If you wish that I do respond to your posts through private messages and are open to hard questions related to your personal integity on land or sea, I will reluctantly be willing to do so. Just state whether that is your choice. Otherwise I will not further debate this topic. You know what they say- "those in glass houses shouldnt throw stones".
A good spearo is not a reflection of ones reasonings skills. It is not an iindication of ones fervor to pursue injustices on land where he lives with the same passion he holds for the ocean. A good spearo is a good spearo.
If this is a board that is more of a brotherhood - great. Nothing wrong with that . Personally I prefer to stand up for what I believe is right even if it may go against the common grain- meaning that I will not stay on the side that is stronger in numbers or has the most popular members to play it safe. I would like to think that I am an individual thinker- that I am sure enough about myself that I can disagree among friends. Having said that I compliment those who gave me answers pertaining to gear and did not prejudge me by raising a red flag not knowing how many rays I was going to shoot per year,the populations of rays in my area, how many people target rays in my area, whether that is all I am interested in shooting., whether it is for my sustenance, whether there are other fish that are as easily accesible, whether I had a boat to get me to other areas, whether I use tannks.
The spearfisherman I am in contact with shoot fish for a living and for their own sustenance. Many of them do not use tanks and understand the ocean in ways most recreational spearos dont. I am certain that they could equally question the practices of many individuals who take part in recreational spearfishing. They could have a multitude of questions. The question is whether one would willingly want to answer them HONESTLY on a public forum.
Lets face it ego is involved for many on this board and on every other board when it comes to hunting fish or other animals . Nothing to feel guilty about - a great hunter a thousand years ago was held in high esteem by the local villagers. It hasent changed. A hunter a thousand years ago was not as well equipped.
How many people who have responded to me have actually shot a ray .Is this first hand information ? It seems that I am stiill reading that its an easy kill but watch out for the tail.????? Any animal can be an easy kill provided correct shot placement .I never even said that I intend to shoot rays lying on the bottom( not that it wouldnt be easier). Because one can approach a ray easily does not mean that there arent complications that could arise once it is shot. The spear could bounce partially out. The ray could become spooked and you could end up with a les than ideal shot. etc,etc,etc.
As you all know, a very similar debate could take place between underwater photographers,freediver and tankdiver spearos.
I highlighted the above post because although this was one of the more helpful replies ; It is also one of the posts that could continue this debate.
Lets put it at rest as far as continuing the debate side of this post.
Sincerely Charlie.
