DW won't allow me to take DS fishing as she says it's animal cruelty.

[MichaelJamesP]

DS knows about fishing, etc. and asked if we could go. I fished when I was his age.

DW has said absolutely not. Saying she doesn’t want to encourage him to injure animals.

Surely fish don’t feel pain?

It’s ridiculous, surely? Would you just take him when she is at work?

Fish might not feel pain, but I still wouldn't be happy to encourage my child to kill an animal for my enjoyment.

And no I wouldn't go behind my partner's back. I would encourage discussion and attempt to come to an agreement between you.

Regardless of whether fishing is cruel, if getting your own way and lying about it is more important than your relationship, then yes, go fishing

Why would fish not feel pain?

Surely fish don’t feel pain?

Scientifically that’s controversial; but almost everyone agrees that fish can feel pain, even if it’s very differently to how humans and mammals do.

Don’t take him whilst your wife is at work. That’s a big statement on what you think of her and it won’t do this any good.

Talk to her; and find a compromise. If he wants to fish; can you fish in a more humane way? Talk about what will make it more acceptable to her.

And of course your son will just tell his Mum you took him fishing behind her back.

What about catching and releasing once weighed/photo opportunity? You're not killing it that way and it could be an opportunity to teach your son about different types of fish?

Lying is never good tbh. Can you compromise and agree not to lift them out of the water or if you do put them straight back? I confess I get a bit funny about fishing, it seems very cruel to the fish. If they weren’t distressed why would they thrash so much?

I thought people just threw them back nowadays

Are you planning on throwing them back in? If so, and as long as you have the right equipment i.e landing mat then I don't see her problem.

Can't you take him fishing for fish you will actually eat as there is a purpose in that whereas coarse fishing is pointless and must distress the poor fish?

I wouldn’t kill them. I’d put them back. She doesn’t like the hooking part.

I don't think her opinion is unreasonable, and just because you disagree with it doesn't mean you should lie to her and go behind your back. Do you lie to her about other things? You don't seem bothered about doing it.
Personally I'm only ok with fishing if you do it to feed yourself, anything else is just cruelty for the sake of 'fun'.
Fish are living creatures, and deserve to be treated as such, I can see why a mother wouldn't want a child to be taught something different.

If you are fishing for sport, I am inclined to agree with your wife. They are definitely capable of feeling pain and suffering. Pulling fish out of water, and allowing them to struggle for air while you pose for photos etc

If you would be taking him to catch trout or salmon, something that would actually teach him about food supply, and anything caught would be quickly killed is different.

Why do people go fishing just to throw the fish back? That's totally pointless and needlessly cruel. Your wife is right.

Because fishing lakes would run out of fish otherwise ada

Unless your wife is a vegetarian, I think she's being ridiculous. Where does she think meat, including fish, comes from?

Catch and release if you don't want to eat the fish. If you do, catch and release all undersized fish, and eat the proper sized fish. Just don't be wasteful.

It’s ridiculous, surely? Would you just take him when she is at work?

No. That's being deceitful at best.

Take her fishing and show her that it isn't cruel.

Because fishing lakes would run out of fish otherwise ada

Umm that makes no sense. Nobody needs to go fishing at all, that's my point!

Unless your wife is a vegetarian, I think she's being ridiculous. Where does she think meat, including fish, comes from?

No. Her having a different opinion does not mean she is 'ridiculous'. . She disagrees with it as a sport. Just like people disagree with fox hunting as a sport.

Her opinion is no less valid than the OPs.

Take her fishing and show her that it isn't cruel

How can you demonstrate that?

Because fishing lakes would run out of fish otherwise ada

Erm. How?

Catch and release is awful, fine it's better than hooking them but it still absolutely petrifies them. There have been studies done re catch and release which show that fish release so much adrenalin during these episodes that they never recover, some female fish lose their ability to reproduce they are in so shock for so long afterwards and their hormone levels change permanantly. Fish do feel pain, google it if it isn't immediately obvious to you. (Brute).

Yes ada, there are fish in the lake near where I live that have been around 20+ years, im so glad they get thrown back in. They get hooked, weighed, pose for a photo , have a bit of bonjela put on them and back in they go. fishermen get a bad name but they keep an eye out of the local wildlife, notice anything affecting the fish that may need treating. A good fishermans priority is the fish safety. Its not as cruel as you think. All "catches" in the lake by me get documented on a website and its so interesting to see how od they are and how much weight they are putting on.

@Xjersey so they catch them for sport and for your enjoyment so you can keep charts on their weight? God, how WOULD those fish cope if there weren't humans trying to starve them of air and gawp at them for photos. Cringe. Fishing for sport is vile.