Spearfishermen and sharks...

[SoFLA34]

I read this article on aol.com, http://news.aol.com/article/shark-vi...acklash/381492, and it was a big surprise to me that so many people are getting bent out of shape about some spear fishermen killing a tiger shark. Does anyone else see this as a bit ridiculous? Maybe its just that I am insensitive but whenever I go spearfishing I usually kill something and its as big as I can handle. If these guys felt like they were in danger I don't see why they wouldn't kill it. I guess option one is get back in the boat however if they are experienced enough, why not get it? Are there some laws I am not aware of that says I can't get a tiger shark while spearfishing? How do you guys feel about it? I think the bleeding hearts need to give it a rest.

[Deep C]

I hate bunny huggers more than most... but... I really don't see the need to croak any inedible critter. If it was bothering them then its his water they should have moved on... That fish looked like a pin cushion with that many shafts in it.

There was a time I slapped tigers on the deck for show then I grew up and knew better... Hell I'm not immune to popping a cap in the tip of a blue dogs nose that keeps trying to eat my chum bucket or transducer even... But killing is a different thing... Pull the barb off a shaft and punch a hole would be enough to send it on its way I would think...

[gottaflylee]

Rayon is a good friend of mine, taught me CPR & First Aid for many years. I will state that they had no choice in the matter, the shark went for them. They dive this same water a lot and also with Tigers in the area. This is the first time that they have ever been bothered by one. They did not want to kill it, but when it went after them and they shot it, their next goal was to dispatch it as quickly and humanely as possible, which I feel was the right thing to do.
Deep, one thing the Tiger did was not let them get back to the boat, it got in-between them and the boat, came after Rayon, so what would you do. Trust me they did not want to kill it.
If you knew these guys like I do, you would not say one thing about what they did. They are stand up guys.

[tunatamer4]

They were interveiwed on Good Morning America or Today Show on Weds. or Thursday. They had the footage of the shark "attack". I feel they did the right thing in killing it, only because the first shot was a gill shot. May have been a mortal wound, may not have, but why risk it? Make sure it doesn't suffer any longer than need be.

[c.behney]

What wrong with shooting sharks. I do it when i dive or free dive. Its a sport and it is a hard one at that. As long as you eat what you kill. To scare sharks i wack them with a .357 mag power head. I makes a bang and they swim off. It only puts a little hole in them. I doesn't kill them as long as it isn't in the gills or head.

[La Gringa]

The locals here DETEST sharks and make a sport out of killing them. Sharks are the enemy to them. I guess they figure that they eat the fish or whatever but it's very common practice.

We don't spearfish here - we are not allowed. However, the locals ARE (Hawaiian sling only - not those spear guns shown in the video) and we have been snorkeling while a local friend spearfishes. The only times we saw sharks (as many as five!!) were when he missed and nicked a fish or he caught a fish. Standard practice in that circumstance is to get in the boat, move and start fishing a new spot.