I didn't mean to piss anybody off. I also don't kill marlin. I've released every marlin I've ever caught except a couple that I had no choice. I never kill anything unless I eat it. I still think that a Blue Marlin is the best game fish in blue water. I dream about marlin every night.
mr (not) Bill,..... didn't mean to come on so strong voicing my disapproval of spearfishing for marlin........ it's just that i see'em as a worthy adversary and more deserving of having a stick run thru'em just because it can be done
it's an illegal method of taking billfish for me as it is (where i fish), but some places play by their own rules (or lack of'em)
the rules imposed upon me and my fisheries seem to be formed (in a large part) by public opinion....... whether or not that opinion was reached based on data collected from my area or around the world remains to be seen
but i personally believe that the regs are also being influenced by what is happening outside o'the area where i fish
'fraid they're gonna look at stuff like that and say, "WOW!, marlin are being killed with spearguns!...... we gotta do somehting!........ hey!, i know!, let's stop Bill Fisher from ever using J-hooks again!...... he might kill one too!"
big brudder's been after my guns for years...... what's next?,..... my rod-and-reels?
overboard?....... maybe
but what if i'm not just being overly paranoid?.......
i'll be selling my sportfisher and all my equipment for less-than-10 cents-on-the-dollar once i've been 'shut-down'
i stand to lose more than just my right to fish for marlin...... i'll be losing a part o'my life
i dream about'em too,........ but sure would hate to get reduced to 'only dreaming'