Photo courtesy of Save the Tarpon
I have always spoken out strongly against fishing tournaments where fish are killed.
That’s a conviction that I stand by, and before now, I’ve never read anything on the topic that changed the way I felt about it. This essay by Ted Williams, for The Blog Nature just may have. I have always considered only the negative effects of these tournaments on the fish. I never stopped to think about what they might be doing to the angling community.
“The trouble with tournaments is not so much what they do to fish but what they do to people.”
This is a thought provoking read. Whichever side of the discussion you may be on, it’s well worth your time. Like me, you may come away seeing things differently.
RECOVERY: RESTORING DECENCY TO TARPON TOURNAMENTS
Louis Cahill Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
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We all fish for different reasons.
the fish
the challenge
the creativity
the setting
the camaraderie
the tradition
the travel
the wildlife
the weather
the gear
the serenity
the satisfaction
the excitement
the purity
the DNA
the fight
the feel
the tactics
the water
the watercraft
the release
the food
the competition
the ego
the money
Excellent article that should give some “anglers” pause for self reflection. Tournament/competition fishing has spurred countless innovations, improving knowledge, equipment, lures/flies, rigging, techniques, and tactics. Like other sports, when completion, ego, and money are at stake, fishing doesn’t develop character – it reveals it.
Wow, this is one of the most thoughtful, eloquent and well considered replies I’ve ever read online. Nicely done!!
Competition fishing is ok as long as fish aren’t killed. I’m competing with the fish I pursua every time I’m casting a line. And I refuse to kill one. I don’t use a net to release one even. I choose to use a ketch and release implement and hope to never harm a released fish in any way.
By tricking a fish to take a fly you are not doing it any good. Hooking and fighting a fish puts an enormous amount of stress on the fish. Add to that landing, handling, and release.
I hear what you are saying and I am with you 100% on not doing harm, or killing fish. Fish stress is something we need to be aware of and I applaud the care you take in handling and releasing fish.