PETA launches a new anti fishing campaign

[Fat Boy]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041116/ap_on_re_us/fish_empathy_3

[fISH2WIN]

You are exactly correct Fat Boy.PETA launched a campain in Montgomery Ala. lastweek . There focus is against sport fishing. They are attacking catch and release and tournament fishing heads up. They are stating that fish are intelligent creatures that have a long term memory and emotions. They are using mortality studies on catch and release to make the practice appear like slow torture until death. They also state that thefish have nerves in their mouth that cause them to feel pain when hooked. They quote studies that say bass have long term memories and a definite social cast system.They have taken a little bit of fact and embellished it with a lot of BS!
They are dangerous people. Take their threat serious. They are influential and have a lot of money behind them. They are a political force.
We as sportsmen must police our behavior and make sure we are good stewards of our outdoor pursuits. The unknowing non sportsman are legions in numbers and can be swayed to PETA's agenda. They have made great advances for their cause in Europe and the UK.
These people threaten our very way of life and personal god given freedoms.
We must stand united as sportsman,. We must practice good conservation methods and we must vote for the man that is in favor of the sportsman not PETA. Fish2win

[MikeThePike]

So if fish, say bass, have nerves in their mouths and feel pain from being hooked, combined with a long term memory as they claim, wouldn't that fish then learn that if he eats he will feel that pain again and not want to eat until he is about to starve and is forced to eat?

[Fat Boy]

If they were that smart then they'd make wise choices and choose not to bite our lures!  After all, we do offer them a choice, we aren't forcing them to bite!!! 

[fISH2WIN]

You are exactly correct Mike. How could they possibly swallow a bream or other spiny fish if they had that type feeling in their mouth. The world of the fish is one of the most violent environments on earth. They spend their entire life either being predator or prey. The fact that many of us have caught fish that still had hooks in their mouth is strong evidence that PETA is wrong. PETA goes on to say that the wound that can be created by the hooking and unhooking process can cause such damage as to cause the fish to starve.
Like I said before. They take a little fact and embellish it to their advantage and cause.  Sportsman  must counter that by good conservation habits. The unknowing general public can and will be swayed one way or the other. If PETA gets their way the art of Hunting and Fishing can become a lost art like so many other crafts that our forefathers practiced and knew.Once a skill becomes obsolete it is lost with in 2 generations.
Do not take these people lightly.
Many of the leaders of the PETA movement are hollywood stars. They are influential and have great wealth in their midst. Once the general population goes to their way of thinking then the politicians will follow.
 They are against the inhuman treatment of animal. So are we. They are against the use of animals for food. We are not. They are against the sporting practice of hunting and fishing for wild animals and fish. We are not. Their is a distinct difference between the cruel drowning of puppies and the controlled harvest of wild game. Fish2win

[monarkman]

I'll tell you these people need to get a life, or a real job!!!