FOM/SH Discussion thread for 2013

[foxfish]

Interesting debate!
I dont think I would shoot a Topknot but as Tom points out they are very common around our way.
However they are reputed to be very good eating & I do know plenty of folk who collect them for food!
I cant see anything wrong with spearing a topknot in an ethical sense, the reason I would not shoot one is a personal choice.
Come to think about it though - I would take a 1.5lb plaice & they grow to 7 lb so if I saw a 1lb topknot I probably would shoot it (most likely mistake it for a tiny turbot & leave it in reality)

 

[Broseidon]

food is food, meat is meat any personification or characterising of fish with human related standards is daft ( all be it a common phenomena with certain people). You think any other predator gives a toss about size? You think a shark etc. Would pass up a topknot? Or what about whales that eat shoals of baitfish? No... Cos they are not daft hippies (not implying you are so no offense!)

Your stance that meat is meat and that predators don't give a toss about size is very interesting. I'm going to presume in that case that you are MORE than happy to fill your stringer with small, undersized juvenile bass? As many as possible!

That has to be the case, right? As you say, meat is meat. You wouldn't want to be characterising fish by human standards would you? That, as you so rightfully say, would make you a daft hippy.

 

[speerolee]

I'd much rather an ethically sourced fish than a prawn (not sure I need to tell ye where commercially sourced fish comes from but ) Fresh fish? The VERY unsavoury truth about your prawn cocktail... and that supposedly fresh fish on the supermarket counter | Mail Online or Twitter asks supermarkets: What are your prawns eating? - Telegraph But really you can find any link to them which explains about a prawns life and even death and how it got to your plate.

Ethically sourced fish is what I eat and what I am about... I do not buy fish or eat any that I dont know who caught it. I do not loose sleep if a dogfish is killed either, tho I know some have a soft spot for those sea puppies...

A spear to a fish with a quick dispatch IS the best, quickest, most ethical way of killing ANY fish of ANY size...

I see two arguments here.

1) Its wrong to kill and eat a small but mature fish.

2) Killing and eating tiny little fishes is OK, as long as its not with a spear.

Which argument are you both in favour of?

Doesn't matter, they are both naive.

Arguments ? I'm sure I stated it was mearly my 'opinion'

And my 'opinion' was that it wouldn't sit well with 'me' to shoot an 8oz fish, hence agreeing with Bro. I personally would not take one that size.

However I am niether upset or bothered by another taking a legal fish of any sort. Uk Spearfishing alone will not harm fish stocks; it is sustainable.

Another 'opinion' of my own is that by entering mini species into FOM could well encourage some newbies to shoot fish for the sake of 'rep' and a pat on the back, if this were the case then uk spearfishing just may have some impact upon fish stocks ??

Believe me.....I use ferrets to hunt fluffy bunnies, firearms to hunt bambies and spears to hunt fish.....so have no arguments on ethics.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ickledevil]

I'm quite enjoying this debate, even if its threatening to become personal anyway the top knot taken was NOT undersized or juvenile in fact it was a good size (for that species) it, I assume, was taken for the table knowing before hand what it was. If my assumptions are correct then I see no issue, yes it could be perceived as a 'small' fish and therefore an inadequate meal but who are any of us to dictate the size of someone's dinner? The species is not to my knowledge threatened or in any more of a decline than any other species regularly taken. If it was an adult legal size Red Mullet would this discussion even occur as that to me is a small meal from a small fish. (Maybe I am greedy?!) I suppose the real issue is one spearo thinks its a waste of time taking a fish this size as its not a decent meal and therefore it was a waste of a fishes life? None of us can say what is or isn't a decent meal for the next man so there should be no argument. If we were talking about an undersized or threatened species different story but as far as I can see we are not. Equally if it was taken purely for competitive purposes that doesn't sit well either, as a side bonus it's fine though assuming the primary reason was still the same as many of us aim for, fish taken in as 'nice' a way as possible for the table in a more environmentally aware way then no issues here but that's my opinion, each to their own of course but I am struggling in this case to see the justification for such a strong reaction?

 

[bobdonny]

I'm going to presume in that case that you are MORE than happy to fill your stringer with small, undersized juvenile bass?

Then you cannot read... and for that reason.... I'm out

 

[Broseidon]

Then you cannot read... and for that reason.... I'm out

No, I can read perfectly, you just contradict yourself. A lot.

Good job.

 

[jks]

The fish was eatin and was taken thinking it maybe a GB record

 

[foxfish]

Check out post 1601 .... http://forums.deeperblue.com/uk-ireland/75349-dorset-spearing-2008-a-107.html#post739359

 

[jks]

Any one wanna do a night dive for some big fat DAB?

 

[shiny1]

Tip of the day.
If you do your night diving during the day you save on battery life!!

 

[slimyeel]

Right, I think it's time for me to have an input here. Firstly!

It's great to have a website such as this where we can post things and give
Each other hints and tips on vis and tides etc. We all have something in common
And that's killing fish with a speargun and we enjoy doing it for many reasons!
I apologize if I have offended individuals by taking this ADULT fish.
It's just a very interesting fact in life that some adult creatures are smaller
Than others! Being a game hunter from Africa myself I know that the antelope kudu are shot with a high velocity rifle, and that same rifle is also used to shoot other much smaller ADULT animals and unfortunately, for people who don't like it, it's a fact of life. Me shooting this
Topknot might in someone's opinion question the type of person I am. And to that, I quite frankly do not care! This is a spearfishing site, where pictures of speared fish are displayed. If individuals do not like seeing pictures of speared ADULT fish.... I'm sure it's very easy to delete accounts on here!
Also, I might add.... I eat Turkey, chicken, goose, duck and QUAIL... oops, should not have mentioned quail as the ADULT is the size of a Turkey egg.......
I have no more to say regarding this!!!

 

[ickledevil]

Glad you popped on to say your piece honestly had not twigged that you were not already commenting. Hopefully all have had their say and it's back to normal now! Dive safe.

 

[scottwilson]

Had to go for Lee's bass on this one Great fish for this time of year!!

 

[Yeti]

random thought of the day.......if they made hot dogs smaller you'd get more in a tin?? surely? :hmm

 

[jerseymike]

Right, I think it's time for me to have an input here. Firstly!

It's great to have a website such as this where we can post things and give
Each other hints and tips on vis and tides etc. We all have something in common
And that's killing fish with a speargun and we enjoy doing it for many reasons!
I apologize if I have offended individuals by taking this ADULT fish.
It's just a very interesting fact in life that some adult creatures are smaller
Than others! Being a game hunter from Africa myself I know that the antelope kudu are shot with a high velocity rifle, and that same rifle is also used to shoot other much smaller ADULT animals and unfortunately, for people who don't like it, it's a fact of life. Me shooting this
Topknot might in someone's opinion question the type of person I am. And to that, I quite frankly do not care! This is a spearfishing site, where pictures of speared fish are displayed. If individuals do not like seeing pictures of speared ADULT fish.... I'm sure it's very easy to delete accounts on here!
Also, I might add.... I eat Turkey, chicken, goose, duck and QUAIL... oops, should not have mentioned quail as the ADULT is the size of a Turkey egg.......
I have no more to say regarding this!!!

Superb Grant, couldn't have put it better. Look fwd to your return to Jsy, Hopefully the water will be warmer and a few silvers will be around. Dive safe.

 

[Yeti]

...........
I personally wouldn't take a small fish, end of story. Anyone who does, well, I think that perfectly reflects what type of person they are.

Cough....

Mackerel sized and greenish... hmmm... by the sounds of things, you might have shot a Macollok, an extremely rare, North Wales fish that is yet to be officially classified as a species. They taste amazing.

I was lucky enough to get one last Summer

Just out of curiosity what IS your stance on shooting 'rare' fish or even fish with eggs? or is it the fact they are not fertilized that allows you to sleep at night? :hmm

 

[grantl]

cough....

...........

 

[Broseidon]

A Macollok is a good and well regarded table fish. Nothing wrong with that at all! rofl

 

[ickledevil]

Bit like a top knot then... But moving on...

 

[Yeti]

all 'opinions' valid and voiced.....playing nicely again?......moving on.... I'd like to even SEE a 7lb Bass this summer! :hmm