Has anyone here dealt with Activists like this guy?

I've never had that happen to me, I guess, since the law is on the side of the sportsman. I did get into a school of bass on day and threw the first one up on the bank. A red-tailed hawk swooped down, picked up my fish and then dropped him back in the water! It's unclear what his motivations were.

OK, I've got this figured out.

We explain to them that we are trying to help the fish develop social consciousness. We figure the little fish should have an opportunity to learn not to eat other fish and that is why we throw them back. Big fish, on the other hand are obviously too old to learn and deserve to be killed when they try to eat lures that look like little fish.

Since this is pretty much what they think of us old farts that should make perfect sense to them.

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Originally Posted by frednic

It also helps to explain to these people that you are just trying to save the lives of all the little fish that the big fish eat every bleedin' day.

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Yeah -- I'm not sure that they understand how nature works.

Anyone know why they would be keeping a bass?

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Originally Posted by Nimakdm

Anyone know why they would be keeping a bass?

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Many years ago, bass weren't laden with mercury and PCBs and farm-pond bass were quite good to eat. That was a long time ago.

Way before my time! Of course people don't eat catfish up here for similar reasons.

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Originally Posted by SamJ

I think a lot of people don't realize that responsible sport anglers can be some of the biggest advocates of conservation. I want to preserve this resource so that future generations are able to have the same experiences as me. I also respect all the fish I catch, they've given me great fun, and sometimes food.

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This is exactly correct - They are all creatures and deserve respect. However - Killer whales and dolphins are known to torture animals they don't intend to eat. Interestingly we consider these the most intelligent of all creatures; its as if a creature approaches high levels of intelligence hunting/survival become less of a challenge they become bored and ultimately decide to play with other creatures for fun...like when we keep pets. Then humans surpassed this level and now our consciousness of the world around us drives us to understand that nature is already trying to kill every creature, let's not make survival any harder for those that we depend on for food.

In case anyone was curious I looked up Alabama's law:

Ala. Code 1975 § 9-11-270 - 275

Summary:This section of law reflects Alabama's hunter harassment provisions. Under the section, no person shall willfully and knowinglyprevent, obstruct, impede, disturb, or interfere with, or attempt to prevent, obstruct, impede, disturb, or interfere with any person who is legally hunting or fishing. Prohibited activities include creating a visual, aural, olfactory, or physical stimulus intended to affect the natural behavior of the wild animal being hunted or fish for the purpose of fishing, or affecting the condition or location of personal property intended for use in the hunting or fishing. Any person violating this article is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

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Originally Posted by CarlF

He could be cited under AL law for interfering with the fisherman, especially once he touched the fish.
Its like $500+ fine plus court costs.

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EXACTLY. Best thing to do is put the fish in a cooler, on a stringer or at least somewhere out of sight to avoid a confrontation. Next call law enforcement if he persists. Defend yourself if attacked otherwise touch him and you are going to jail for assault.

Devils advocating here... Could keeping the fish like he did be treated as animal cruelty?