Boats, kids, fish, PETA

[SwampNut]

Three of these things go together, which one does not? I got some animal whacko hate mail about this photo of our boy catching dinner. I can't come up with enough insulting words for them. I think I may need to make up new words to really let them know how I feel.<br /><br />But worst...when he took it to school his teacher had some negative things to say about fishing and "damaging mother nature." While I support everyone's right to speech, I wonder where to draw the line with someone in a position of power? It's easy to set it straight when he comes home and asks a loaded question based on crap his teacher said, but I wonder what else he fails to ask us about. I don't want to teach him to be argumentative, especially to adults, but some things should be answered to.<br /><br />Your thoughts? <br /><br />

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Nice Triggerfish....

 

[alden135]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

I let the teachers have it when my boy comes home from school with that hippie crap. Needless to say, I'm not well liked by the school.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Awesome! Is that his first fish? What is it?<br />Looks sort of like sheepshead or prisoner fish.<br />As for PETA and wacked-out teachers, both are to be fought by those who oppose them. They have wrought havoc down here, with everything from tarpon tournements to manatee speed zones.<br />I am very outspoken when I encounter these morons. They have the freedom of speech,alright---but NOT at the censorship of me or my kids. My kids have been (and still are) outspoken too.You just gotta out-shout the krackpots. If you and your children are quiet, the crackheads win.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

The fish we take are themselves predators; with every fish you remove from the water, you are saving countless thousands of lives. You're a hero!<br /><br />Seriously, a rational conversation with her including words and phrases like "responsible use of resources", "stewardship", "parents spending time with their children", "safe, legal, sanctioned activities", "undermining parental authority", "discussion with superintendent", that sort of thing might be in order.<br /><br />[edit - just thought of another one, something about hunting with the vice president]

 

[12Footer]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Ah yes, Trigger fish..The lips should've gave it away to me.<br /><br />An example: The following is an old post demonstrating one way I dealt with one such imposition from the local PETA fish NAZIs.. I hope it spurs some inspiration... Now go git those idiots!<br />

<br />The following is a real event;<br />It was January, 1999, and me and my bro were fishing . We had a favorite spot, which was approx 150FT from a bridge,where we would anchor. There were quite a few fishermen on the catwalk and on the headwalls (10-15, best I can remember). Anyhow, we were enjoying it, when we hear a commotion . A bunch of people chanting something about "fish die, we cry", or some such rot.As they approached we could see what appeared to be a person in a costume of a green fish! There were about 10-12 other people in back of "Fishman", all carrying signs like "fish have feeling too" and "stop heartless fishermen" and such...Fishman was quite animated, dancing, and jumping,and motioning as if he was in pain and crying. It was a truely SURREAL site unfolding. As they got on the bridge, stopping traffic ,horns blairing, people screaming, fishermen cussing-- my brother, a usually quiet, soft-spoken guy, undid his trousers, and "MOONED" the group. The crowd on the bridge errupted in laughter..Well, what could I do? I mooned them too. Then, all the fishermen on the bridge did the same.<br />Fishman and his silly enterage turned-around, and walked-off to the side they approached from. I couild no longer see them, but heard one of the guys on the bridge say, "that guy is on a cellphone." Another said, "I'll bet the dweeb is calling the sherriff's dept."<br />Then, one sugjested we all deny we "mooned" this group of strange folk. We all seemed to agree. Sure enough, the sherriff showed-up, asked what was going on, and somebody said, "nuthin". Fishman was behind the officer "saying they were ALL doing it! Can't you arrest them?"<br />The cop asked, and we unamimouslly denied mooning the fish. Then my brother yells out.."Hey do they have a permit to do that?"<br />The officer turned-around nodding his head and laughing. Apparently, they did not, and the cop told them to disperse, or be arested. They disperesed...WIMPS!

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

We have demonstrators around here too from time to time. They're mostly kids trying to figure out where they fit in, in life. They're typically ignored.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Sorry, boatbouy, I'm not buying that. I have seen way too much indoctrination by so-called "teachers" taking place. Some of it was ancient and personal. More often ,it has been in the form of report cards and teacher's notes sent home with my children and their children.<br /><br /> We have some incredible teachers that somewhat offset the kooks. And some are even our fellow members here. Wait until they read this thread, then tell me about kid-demonstrators not being programmed to demonstrate, "looking where they fit-in in life".

 

[fire831]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Nice fish and that smile is worth a million bucks.

 

[FSHKPR]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

I have had triggers in my aquariums just wondering are they tasty?

 

[OBJ]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

I think I would take the mail and return it and tell them where to put it....you know....the place where the sun don't shine. Along with a nice note NOT to send any more. How would someone get the picture in the first place?<br /><br />And I do believe that it was not the teachers place to address the lad as you outlined. I would have a talk with the teacher. I can only imagine what it made the lad feel like.<br /><br />Just seeing the smile on that young lads face just sums up a great day on the water.

 

[Kalian]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Yeah, I wonder about how much indoctrination is going on in the schools. Scary thoughts. Whats next. I'm strongly considering home-schooling, although it would be quite dificult for my particular situation.

 

[SwampNut]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Awesome! Is that his first fish? What is it?

Actually, I do believe that was his first ever. That day they were jumping onto unbaited lines hanging over the side. The Triggers and Groupers were suicidal that day. We were out maybe an hour when this pic was taken:<br /><br />

<br /><br />

The fish we take are themselves predators; with every fish you remove from the water, you are saving countless thousands of lives. You're a hero!

Hey, great idea! That's something that even a seven year old can easily remember and say, and he'll understand what it means. Plus it's not inflammatory enough to cause any real trouble.<br /><br />

I have had triggers in my aquariums just wondering are they tasty?

I have an Undulated Trigger (nasty predator), and we used to have a Niger Trigger until he committed suicide by jumping out. But yes, Triggerfish is VERY good. Hard to work with, but worth it. You have to watch for the "trigger" which can easily go all the way through your hand, but also the skin is extremely tough. The meat is light, white, and creamy-like, maybe you could call it buttery. Almost like raw Ahi in consistency. Not good raw though, great fried.<br /><br />

How would someone get the picture in the first place?

It was posted on some internet forums that are family oriented, and one nutjob called it "pornographic" and "teaching violence." He also took a print to school, which is where the teacher saw it.<br /><br />

Just seeing the smile on that young lads face just sums up a great day on the water.

Tell me about it. Here's what I show people when they ask if boating expenses are worth it. This is my dad, shortly after winning his second fight with cancer and buying his first brand new boat. You can't ever replace a photo like this.<br /><br />

 

[jtexas]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Caught a Queens Triggerfish on the reefs off Belize - you could just see a flash of electric blue while I was bringing it in. Beautiful fish, great fighters.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your pics, truely priceless.<br /><br />Whoever sent you those hate-emails, I'd be willing to fill their inbox with fishing pictures...bet there are others here who would help. Just say the word.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Personaly if it were me I would be in the principal's or superintendent's office with the teacher present and make my view clear....Stick to the cirriculum, and keep your views and opinions to yourself!<br /><br />The boy would never know I was there<br /><br />As for the nutjob, I would pry report it to the forum and then blow it off...at least till it happened again.

 

[Kalian]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Swampnut, nice pics. Whats the big one at the bottom of the pile? I can't make out much more than the head.

 

[SwampNut]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Big grouper. Might be the one in the last photo, not sure, we caught three that day.

 

[lark2004]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

That's why we teach our kids to fish ain't it? <br />To see the look on their face when they land their first!<br /><br />Great photo's!

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Great pics. Gotta love it when they smile like that. <br />To bad the story behind the post sux.

 

[SwampNut]

Re: Boats, kids, fish, PETA

Some good ideas here though. I think I need to add pre-emptive education behind each of our outdoor activities. Not a bad idea anyway, but I guess it's necessary today.<br /><br />I'd love to have seen her reaction after the first time we took him shooting. He took a show and tell photo of him blasting cans with an "assault rifle."