Live Baiting

Whilst in normal circumstances the majority of anglers fish most often with dead baits using sea species, either for the reason that they are always available, or they reckon it is the best method on the day.

When I live bait, I don't have any problems justifying why, just in the knowledge that it does help you catch more all be it smaller fish. I don't deny that live baiting is a volatile issue, nor do I ignore the fact that the antis will use it to score points in their fight against us. What does concern me is that we lie down too easily and give in to pressure too readily. Do the anti live bait anglers think that if we ban livebaiting the 'anti' anglers will give up their fight against us? It is no use pleading that livebaiting with fish is difficult to defend, so it is better to concede that and hope the antis lie down. If we concede that live baiting is cruel how the hell do we defend the use of maggots and worms ?

To those who live-bait, I say speak up and defend the method. To those who don't livebait, for whatever reason, defend it for those who do. If you don't it will be maggots and worms you will have to defend next, and lip-hooking the fish you catch.

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