Is Fishing Humane?

There are many people who disagree entirely with the premise of angling for sport or for food, arguing that fishing is, in and of itself, cruel. This opinion is an extension of the more widely held view that hunting should also be banned because of the aspect of cruelty in that sport. However, is it exactly true to say that fishing should be banned, and that it is inhumane? There are conflicting viewpoints.

The truth is that fish do feel pain. Therefore, if they are hooked then it is natural that they will experience discomfort and will struggle. It is for the fisherman to decide whether this is something that will put them off going fishing again, or whether they’re just fine with it. There is no doubt that many people will argue that a fish is just a fish, and that they certainly do not feel fear and other “human emotions”. This is also true.

It really comes down to whether it matters to you whether or not the fish will feel pain as a result of what you are doing. If we are going to be strictly honest and accurate, then fishing certainly is not humane in the sense that the word is most commonly used. Some forms of fishing, such as fly fishing, are certainly considered more humane than others. If you take a black-and-white view of human kindness then you may disagree with that reading of things. In the end, though, no-one is going to stop a keen angler from going fishing.

“Give A Man A Fish And You’ll Feed Him For One Day”

Most people will have heard the old saying “give a man a fish, and he’ll feed himself for a day; teach him to fish and he’ll feed himself and his family for life”. Although not everyone who takes up angling does it in order to provide food, it is a good saying, demonstrating how fishing can be more than just a hobby, and can have a real practical application for anyone who does it. it helps if you like to eat fish and have a nearby body of water with a ready supply of edible species, of course. Admittedly not everyone is so lucky.

However, for those who are, there is certainly a viable aspect to fishing in order to provide food. Not every species you can catch is edible – or to be more accurate, not every species is one that you would wish to eat. Those that are do not occur naturally everywhere. It is therefore a good idea to read up on the prevalent species in your area and find out whether you might enjoy dining on freshly caught fish regularly.

It is also worth being aware whether you need to have a licence in order to fish certain spots. In some cases, local authorities deem it necessary that anyone who might fish for financial gain (and if you do not have to buy the fish, it could be argued that you are doing so) should pay for a licence to cover what they might take out of the areas rivers and lakes. The licence may not cost much, and you may not need one at all, but it is advisable to be sure of the situation before you go any further, in order that you do not end up paying a fine and having to pay for a licence.

Fancy A Change? Try Ice Fishing.

Most regular anglers choose between three main types of fishing for their amusement. Either you like to go sea fishing, or fish in a river, or finally you might prefer to enjoy a placid day’s lake fishing. However, there are also plenty of people – chiefly those who live in colder climates – who enjoy doing things another way. Namely, ice fishing. This may sound like an unrealistic choice for those who live in warmer climes, but there is absolutely no reason why you cannot go on an ice fishing break should the fancy take you.

Indeed, for some places – among them the American state of Alaska – ice fishing forms a major part of their cultural tourist industry. The fact that for many people in these regions ice fishing is a necessity, means that they have a strong knowledge of exactly how to do it right, and this makes for an endlessly entertaining change of pace for those who are used to standing in shorts and t-shirt while battling a warm water fish. The equipment is slightly different and the experience can be a little jarring if you don’t deal well with icy conditions, but it can be genuinely good fun.

The pleasures of ice fishing may not be as widely known as those of riverbank fishing and sea angling, but they are certainly there nonetheless. Anyone who has spent a few hours crouched by a hole in the snow trying to land a fish will admit that, at the very least, there is a real challenge to ice fishing which other forms struggle to replicate.

Epic Battles Of Our Time

It is often claimed that former US president George W Bush once said “It is my belief that human beings and fish can co-exist peacefully”. While there is dispute over whether he actually said that, surely no-one disagrees that it is true. However, you will come to question the truth of it when you have put a great deal of effort into the battle to land a 40-50 lb fish and feel nothing but anger and aggression towards the entire piscine kingdom. At that point, you’ll feel ready to declare full-scale war against fish and, indeed, crabs too. Anything that lives in water will draw your ire.

Undoubtedly, though, the major lasting effect of a battle to land a big fish will be dependent on whether you get it in the net in the end. If you do, an overriding feeling of weary satisfaction will be the order of the day. Fail to land it and you’ll nurse a sense of hurt frustration and either resolve to get the lucky fish next time, or want to walk away and leave it. Of such fine margins is made the life of a keen angler. If we didn’t have those moments of satisfaction and frustration, fishing would just be boring.

It is as much a matter of getting the larger fish on the hook as it is getting it in the net. Any number of things can happen once it’s on the end of the line, and not every case where the fish gets away will be the angler’s fault. In fact, getting the fish on the line and enjoying the battle is many anglers’ favorite part of the pastime. No matter how frustrating it can be to have a fish escape you, imagine how bored you’d get if they never even got on the hook.

A Fishing Holiday – The Ultimate Relaxation

For anyone who wants a truly relaxing holiday, you’d have to go some to beat a week spent fishing somewhere nice and sunny. The huge advantage to a fishing holiday is, of course, that not only are you many miles away from the grind of work and personal life, but you are able to spend your days on a riverbank or boat, challenging yourself against the best that the marine world can throw at you. It may not feel relaxing when you are going mano a mano against a fish that weighs the same as a sledgehammer, but for the rest of the time it’s bliss.

Fishing holidays are big business in this day and age – with people feeling that the every day grind of work is something that can really build into a major stress problem. There is something endlessly relaxing about being next to a great body of water, it is almost therapeutic. If you can get rid of some of the stresses by battling to land a larger fish, then so much the better. It is these kind of experiences that make a holiday memorable, after all.

The big question for you, however, is where to go, and what kind of fishing you enjoy plays a big part in this. If you are keen on sea fishing, then one of the major areas of coastline in the world might be just perfect. If you are more of a riverbank aficionado, then somewhere more rural will be a better idea. In the end it is up to you, and the main thing is that you enjoy yourself.

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