To kill, or not to kill

 Over the last few years, I have been rather fortunate with the number of fish I have caught. To understand this statement, you need to first know that, up to recently, I maybe averaged five to ten fish per year. Compare that to the couple hundred fish I have caught on average over the last three years, and the contrast is staggering. It is a luxury I have to go fishing when and where I want which encourages me to make my videos. Sharing my experiences with those who cannot find the time to get out there. And if someone can learn from my mistakes, it means that for me, that time was not wasted.

Now, this might come as a shock to some, but I really don’t like fish. I love catching and looking at them, but I don’t like eating them. Thus, I prefer catch and release fishing practices. I have no problem with anglers keeping catches if done in a sustainable way. For me personally, it is very hard to justify keeping and cleaning any fish. I enjoy the dopamine rush from getting that bend in the rod, but I feel some kind of closure when seeing the fish swim away.

It is then hard for me to kill for the sake of killing. A strong argument is needed to convince me that it is needed to take the life of a defenseless fish. That being said, I understand that killing one type of fish to protect the ecosystem is important, but Thanos-like. The introduction of a new species in an established system can destroy that system. Killing the intruder restores the balance but often seems wasteful. I believe you should utilize the fish you kill, but I definitely don’t expect anyone to eat a pleco.

Whether I like it or not, sometimes it is a law for a good reason. The picture above was taken at Pahranagat wildlife refuge after a night of fishing. Management at Pahranagat asks that any carp caught in the marshes be dispatched immediately. These fish were all emaciated and clearly there is not enough food for all of these fish. But I cannot help but think about the carp back in South Africa. A Pahranagat-style lake would have loads of 20- to 40-lb carp. Maybe if more people here in the USA actively try to catch the carp, they might have enough food to sustain them?