To think it’s wrong I’m considering taking up fishing as a hobby

[cuppateaandabiccie]

My DH goes fishing occasionally and has done for many years as it is a hobby of his, he likes seafood so he would bring home what he has caught and eat it.

He has always asked me if I have wanted to take up fishing as a hobby, I have always declined because it was never something that was of interest to me but I am now starting to come round to the idea because it seems quite relaxing and soothing and what is better than being out in the great outdoors!

However, it feels quite wrong at the same time as I do not like seafood and would never eat fish so all I would be doing is catching fish and putting them back in the water again which I don’t like because then I’m pointlessly putting a hook into their mouths and causing them pain for no reason so it would seem quite cruel to do that for my own relaxation.

AIBU to think that way or should I find a different hobby?

Give the fish to your DH to eat.

However, it feels quite wrong at the same time as I do not like seafood and would never eat fish so all I would be doing is catching fish and putting them back in the water again which I don’t like because then I’m pointlessly putting a hook into their mouths and causing them pain for no reason so it would seem quite cruel to do that for my own relaxation.

I just don’t see why you would go fishing then if you are against it and think it is cruel?
Why not just go for a walk if you want to relax outdoors?

I couldn't deliberately hurt a helpless living creature for fun but there's nothing stopping you.

Find a humane hobby. Surely there's something you can do outdoors you both enjoy? Geocaching? Forest bathing? Volunteer to walk a shelter dog.

If you don't eat fish and think fishing for a hobby is cruel, then it seems a bit odd to me that you would want to go fishing.

Why not find another outdoor hobby?

If you want to be out with him but not fishing, you could take along another hobby to do - watercolour painting / drawing / reading - go for a walk part of the time, sit and enjoy the countryside and read / paint for the rest.

No I don’t like fish at all, the thought of eating one makes me feel sick. Can’t stand fish and other seafood.

fishing would be quite relaxing but I think PP are right that I need to find another outdoor hobby as I love animals and it would be wrong to inflict unnecessary pain on them

Would you use barbless hooks? If you caught them to take home could you kill them? I think it would be more relaxing to go birdwatching or walking personally.

Oh no I definitely could never kill any animal I certainly would not be doing that

Are you interested in trying fishing itself, sharing a hobby together, or looking for a similar hobby?

In fishing there are those who do it for the relaxation & the ‘battle’ of man vs fish / hunter vs hunted and then throw back the fish for another day, or those who take home and eat their catch.

You have no intention of eating fish so your choice when catching would be to give it to others or put it back

There is another possibility of rather than ‘fishing’ but instead putting a hook into the water. I used to do that as a boy, and I don’t like the taste of fish. This way you would very rarely actually catch anything (but anyone observing will probably gladly explain to you in great detail how you are doing it wrong)
On one occasion on holiday at my grandparents I was ‘fishing’ on the dockside, but every passing fish seemed to want to jump onto my bare hook, my grandfather was delighted to eat real ‘local’ fish for the first time in decades

If you want to do something together you could join him and ‘assist’ or as mentioned by others paint (assuming it is on the river etc with a view), do some photography etc (which doesn’t necessarily need a view as you can photograph ‘interesting’ things

Do make sure that you know for sure whether he is fishing / relaxing (which you could share), or having personal time (which you could be intruding on)
You could also go off together then wander off and do your own things

Birdwatching OP? Also SUPing. Both can be relaxing & outdoors.

Carp fishing is a way of fishing where you don’t keep your catch.
A hobby that gets you outdoors could be photography? Then you can go with your DH sometimes, or go walking and take pictures of nature/wildlife.

There's nothing to say you actually have to catch any fish and I've often thought that fishing would be the perfect hobby for busy tired mums who want a break from people wanting things from them.

Just don't bother with the hook and let your line dangle in the water while you sit and enjoy the view and the peace and quiet for a few hours. Make sure you take a comfy chair, a blanket, snacks and wine and/or a flask.

Why can't you just go along and sit on the bank next to him and not actually fish yourself?