Fishing Answers

what does a vegetarian think about sport fishing?

would you ever fish? if you had kids and they really wanted to go fishing with the nice neighbor family- would you permit this?

Public Comments

1. Most think its not right to fish. I wouldn't let me kids go fishing with the neighbours, no. and obviously veggies don't eat fish so what would they do ? kill it for fun ?? Hardly ethical to a veggie. I remember once picking up a sandwich to eat it. There was a hook in it and it got stuck in my cheek. I got yanked thru the air and pulled under water. I nearly drowned while a fishy family took the hook out and then threw me back onto the bank. It didn't feel like sport to me. I've seen this happen to other people, some of them died of shock or infections.
2. I would go fishing personally, though it's not exactly exciting for me.
3. vegetable fishing is cool, try and real in a watermelon some time and leave those poor helpless fish alone
4. Why would a vegetarian eat fish? Vegetarians don't eat meat at all, and fish is considered a meat. Also, most vegetarians are vegetarians for ethical reasons, so no I guess none of them would go sport fishing because it doesn't seem to pleasant to have a hook put in to some little creature's mouth only to reel it up and then suffocate it for a bit while removing the hook and throwing it back in. And since a vegetarian wouldn't want to do that to a fish, why would they let their kids do it?
5. I personally think it depends on what kind of vegetarian you are. I am not a strict vegetarian, I eat fish. But I would never, ever go sport fishing because I would feel horrible about it. But it is your life and your decision...I am not going to criticize you for your choices just as I would hope you would do in return. If you want to let your kid fish then do it! I mean it isn't like it will ruin your child
6. I'm against sport fishing. My daughter occasionally goes sport fishing with some friends and I often tease her about it by excitedly asking her if she caught anything and when she says "no" congratulating her with a big smile and handshake.
7. it depends on the reason the person is a vegetarian. if they are against animal cruelty they might be. i used to be vegetarian... only for the fact that it was low fat and healthy. i still don't eat a ton of meat.. mainly chicken.. occasionally salmon or tuna or ground beef... oh.. i like my steak now and then.... don't get me wrong.. cruelty to animals is wrong... but i don't think killing them to eat is wrong... Heavenly Father did give us control over the beasts of the earth, and made them for our benefit.... i also have a good friend who is vegan, only because she is allergic to just about every animal product. which isn't uncommon.. most of our bodies aren't made to properly digest animal products.. and if you quit eatin them, you can see a huge difference, but she'd be okay with it. i don't much see the point in fishing and throwing it back.. i think i'd find someone who wanted to eat the fish or something.. i dunno.. i just think it would suck to get a hook in the mouth and then be thrown back... but then again, i guess better to get a hook in the mouth then gutted alive?? i think i'd gut the fish and take it to the food bank or soup kitchen or something if it were me.....but i wouldn't say its wrong. i just cant' see the point in fishing to throw it back!!! ;o)
8. Well, sports to me include a ball and two teams. Harming animals has never been a sport where I come from - be it deer, fish, birds or other creatures. (hey! I covered air, land and sea on that one!). Any-who. I don't eat fish and I don't think I would do the sport fishing thing. If I had children, I would allow them to make the decision on their own. After being informed about the sport and the motivations behind it, I would allow them to decide if they wanted to participate. Far be it from me to say that they cannot spend quality time with their friends (!) so I wouldn't flat out say no. That would also mean that I was pushing my beliefs on them and I would not want to do that.
9. Seems like everyone is mis understanding the question. Sports fishing is catch and release, you don't eat it you just do it for the fun of fishing. Did any one above really read the question?
10. Who is the sport for? Not the fish... so as a vegetarian for45 years and a vegan now for 7 years, no way would I do it, let my children do it or enjoy seeing anyone else doing it. Even if it is catch and release, there is still the cruelty involved in catching the fish and having to take out the hook and then throwing the fish back. Plenty of trauma for the fish.. no fun for me watching it.
11. I don't agree with fishing. My dad is a fisherman but I don't like the fact that he is. If I had kids who wanted to go fishing I would not allow it. I would allow them to go out in a boat while educating them on endangered species and ecosystems. I would take them diving or to swim with Manatees or to the beach but never fishing. If they want to make the decision to torture and kill a fish when they get older that is fine but I won't allow it while they are under my roof.
12. No. Killing any animal, including bugs and fish, without a real reason is never inexcusable, unless the animal is in extreme pain and it would be more humane to put them down using a lethal injection.
13. i have fished before, yes (when i was younger and before i went vegan) i wouldn't let my kids go fishing. causing another animal to go through pain and shock is not how i want my kids to get their entertainment. :)
14. This is a current dilemma in my household. My husband (omnivore) feels that our children (who are vegetarian), should be able to do this "fun act!" My daughter went with their grandparents once, but didn't do any fishing, nor did she watch all that much since she's only 3 and wanted to run around and stare at nature more. I am set against it!
15. I have been fishing befor I became a vegetarian! I kind of felt sad! Watching theese kids that where next to us beet them in the head with rocks! And if I had kids and they really wanted to go fish..................HELL no!
16. I would never go sport fishing, it is just as cruel to have an animal pierced with a sharp hook, have to tear it out, just to throw it back in the water. I would also never allow my children to go fishing. There are so many other things involving sea life that are positive and actually teach them something. I would tell them no, and allow them to go with me whale watching, diving(if old enough), to an aquarium, etc.
17. No and no. I think fishing is extremely cruel and unnecessary. "Imagine reaching for an apple on a tree and having your hand suddenly impaled by a metal hook that drags you—the whole weight of your body pulling on that one hand—out of the air and into an atmosphere in which you cannot breathe. This is what fish experience when they are hooked for 'sport.'" http://www.fishinghurts.com/
18. no, fishing is cruel no matter what you call it. also, it teaches children that they can do whatever they want to something small and almost defenseless. first fish, then other humans. it's been proven that murderers often start out as children who torture animals. yes, i would encourage my child to make their own decisions, but when it involves hurting an innocent fellow inhabitant of this planet, i'm afraid that it would then be turned over to me deciding
19. What does the nice neighbor family have to do with anything? What makes them 'nice'? Why would you permit it? I'm sure theres a lot more constructive mind expanding things someone can do besides fish. Sitting in a boat or standing on a shore...with basically a modified stick in your hand. All you do is sit while you wait to trick some well meaning fish who just wants food..and then you wind your wrist like crazy in some stupid pseudo race against what? Then you do it again. I'm sure if families chose more constructive hobbies to bond with, our society would be much more..well, constructive. Go pick berries and then bake a pie together or something.. common! Kids would have just as much or more fun doing this and nothing needs to be taunted, hurt, maimed, or killed to do it - plus they wouldn't be being taught that its ok to use other creatures for entertainment at any cost.
20. Sorry, no. I feel one of the biggest downfalls of vegetarianism is how hard it is to not give into the what seems normal that most other people participate in (like eating meat, or fishing). I feel that if you are a vegetarian and you let your child go with your neighbors (friendly or not) you will only be going against your own views and giving in to the thoughtless activity. Unless you are a vegetarian for strictly health reasons, then you probably don't agree with what I am saying anyway, but if you care about animal welfare, then I hope this helped in your instance! Good luck.
21. My "Can't Understand Normal Thinking" alter ego says . . . "I'm sure theres a lot more constructive mind expanding things someone can do besides fish." Trouble is that he can't think of any besides foraging for food an spouting bizarre crap. "Sport fishing" hell .. he doesn't have the energy for "sport f**king" he's so self absorbed in "personal experience and research" ... that's what you put when you don't have anything else to base it on. So this dweeb that I'm reality checking can't think that sport fishing is a rite of passage that has endured for eons. The social benefits far outweigh the paltry crap veganconscript offers as justification for abolition of this centuries old rite of passage. Moreover, with the new emphasis on "catch and release" sport fishing has taken on a new educative role as respect for the environment and all living things in it. Su
22. No. 1. It's no fun to have a metal hook stuck in the roof of your mouth. 2. It's no fun to jump around in a bucket and gasp for air while you're suffocating. 3. Fish are monogamous and they mate for a lifetime. By catching one we break up a couple and cause grief. These are not things that we should teach our children to do.
23. i would never ever go fishing. i hate the smell of fish and i could never imagin hurting one mentaly or physicaly. if i did that , i wouldnt be able to sleep for days. i would not allow my kids to fish because i would want them to know how to treat animals.
24. I used to go fly fishing with my Dad all of the time when I was growing up. I loved it. But I can't do it anymore. When you yank a fish out of it's habitat it flops around gasping for air. It is just too sad for me. I don't have kids but when I do I will not deny them the experience of fishing. I think it is important for humans to be exposed on a very basic level to their food sources so that they can make an educated choice as to what they are willing to eat. I still go fishing with my dad but now I just wade downstream with him in the river and we talk. He doesn't catch as many fish as he used to.
25. Why bother? It's like tug-o-war for rude lazy asses.