Honorable disagreement

Any time you catch & release there is a possibility that the fish may die. When every effort is made to release it alive, with the fish having a good chance of survival, and done with the best of intentions, then why should the fisherman be condemned? I think you'll have a better chance of setting up that thread on some other site. (We all know which one.) Just my two cents.

Think about this, Every time someone post a story like this on the internet Google and others add the post to search engines. So essentially re-posting negative story's makes the story last longer and have more negative effect.

Which WE don't need, But yes on the other hand we do need a place or a way to discuss it....In fact i just thought of a way that it may be done, No promises because i am no expert and this isn't my site

Chumslurpee wrote
"Would it not be better to air the dirty laundry of those that commit these vile acts? not to promote it but to condemn the act and vocalize against it"

I respect everyone's opinion and don't want to censor what is written on this forum,,,I believe in freedom of speech but as a land-based fisherman who is seeing a wave of anti land-based shark fishing laws being proposed or implemented ,I and others who take this threat very serious are involved and very committed in protecting our rights to continue practicing our sport.That being said we will not give those that would abolish us ammunition to use against us.One thing that i learned from my father is that it is much easier to sit back and criticize then it is to work hard to find a solution for a problem.I am proactive and into working hard and FINDING SOLUTIONS.My job as administrator of this forum carries a responsibility to be a defender of the sport and that is what i intend to do first and foremost.We will vocalize against the senseless killing of sharks and will not promote those that do it but we are looking for REAL SOLUTIONS to the depleting shark stocks and that emcompasses pushing forward Ideas like banning commercial longlining vessels on a worldwide scale--these are Ideas that would create real change with positive long term effects.You want change Get Involved and make it happen don't just sit there and point out allthe ugly things while you do nothing about it.I believe those that want to protect our sport should start by acting on a local level, it's a start and always welcome but we must not allow ourselves to linger on the negative hysteria that the media creates and the preservationist love to shove in our faces even if we are not the guilty party.

We wholeheartedly condemn the killing of a shark merely for it's jaws or to leave it in the middle of the street like was recently done in the Liberty City ghetto.We are on record as not promoting that type of treatment of sharks and will continue to push for catch and release and tag and release as an even better option but please let's work on positive change and not constantly focus on the negative,,,,,,,,if you are a SINCERE proponent of responsible land-based shark fishing.Thank You.
Will Fundora

Airing dirty laundry shows honesty and concern. The modern buzzword is "transparency".
Who would be best at clarifying shark protection to a lay public than those who truly understand the issues ? Of course, understanding a bit about sharks would be prerequisite.

I know first hand how shark longliners decimate an unstable, vulnerable resource very, very efficiently. Anglers who sport fish for sharks preserve that same resource, but how efficiently ? Shark fins sell for what, about $26 per pound now ? How much does caring sell for ? Cloris Leachman's commercials about saving tigers ran for years, Whale Wars is still on the air, how long did the spot with the native American shedding a tear as he gazed on all the pollution run, we see bumper stickers about saving whales and rainforests, etc.

Could continuing to show concern about such pictures be used in your own best interest ?
Could tagging legitimize shark sport anglers in the eyes of the lay public ?
I think the answer to both questions is "yes."

I agree with you Bill.. I think it's time that the public see's the land-based shark fisherman as stuarts of our oceans. Obviously we all care very much about the plight of the shark... and that is a fact.

I do respect will's right to moderate and allow what content on his forum that he wish's so i will create a spot on my site where this matter can be discussed in an appropriate manner. From some of the apparent differences in how it should be handled maybe to alleviate any tension on will's forum a will set up a reporting and community outreach program to show that a few rotten apples not only ruin it for a bunch but that they are from different trees all together. Those who agree with this can pm me or visit my site whatever is good for them. i was not trying to stir up any problems but i feel maybe we should kinda leave this subject only here as i see it is a very hot topic. Here is the link to where I started a room for further discussion.
http://www.finaddictsonline.com/forum-test/14-shark-advocacy/26-the-begining-of-local-shark-advocacy.html