Almost broke a record!

[steeltalon]

I have weigh in on this issue. I both spearfish and fish with a pole here in Utah. I am a former member of BASS and fished a number of regional tournaments in my younger years. I will try to be as brutally honest as possible. 1. Having spoken to DNR numerous times, including their RACmeetings, the conclusion of their biologist is that spearfishing is having almost ZERO impact on game fishing in Utah. Why? There are less than 150active spearfisher man in Utah, the sport is very physically demanding so most of the spearfishing occurs between 10-20 feet, and if you can’t see under water at least 6-10 feet underwater, you can hit any fish. Now in contrast, spearfisherman don’t haveDownScan Imaging, Side Scan Imaging, a Ranger Bass Boat with underwater video,etc….Next, with few exceptions, the fish don’t stand around waiting to be hit with a spear. They are typically very warring,depending on the species, and can be difficult to hit. Think of it from this perspective, ifspearfishing were having such a negative impact on bass fishing in Utah, why is the limit for smallmouth at 30 on Powell, no limit on walleye at Powell and nolimit on strippers at Powell? Spearfishing is legal at Willard Bay, but how many of you are having a hard time catching fish their? My point is that there are too many unqualified assumptions and conclusions being made about the impact of spearfishing in Utah. Remember, high school math Correlation[/b] does not imply causation. The fact that the bass fisherman are having reduced catches, as they state, doesn’t mean the source of the issue is the spearfisherman. It is simply not a valid conclusion that DNR either supports or agrees with. You think I’m wrong? Go to a RAC meeting and ask them directly. But, I’ll already have attended several of the meetings, and I’ve given you their answer.[/b][/size]
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