“Just passing time really while the soaps are on, but arguing for the sake of it can be a bit addictive! As mentioned I don,t go fishing but did as a child did on occasion. It may not surprise you to hear that my dad stopped taking me after one too many tantrums after not catching anything. In terms of your question though, no anglers do not just sit and hold a rod, why would they? There is in fact a endless choice of techniques available to them in order to catch fish. This is where the competitive feelings come in causing someone to enjoy what they are doing. Once a fish takes the bait the line must be struck quickly so the fish doesn't swallow the hook. This is where the pain/injury debate comes in. I cannot possibly comment on how a fish must feel, to compensate for the unknown people often default to crediting fish with human attributes. In terms of memory, emotion and pain I just don't know. However I would suggest that because the flesh around a fishs mouth is so thin pain would be minimal. To then throw a fish back would be poor practice, particulary if the fish had been tired while being caught. The thing is a responsible angler will put caught fish back non the worse for the experience. This same person will have contributed financially so helping to sustain jobs etc. These people also care for our environment so would discourage vandalism, littering and irresponsible fishing which I expect is a big problem. Based on my understanding of the benefits I feel obliged to disagree with anyone who would see fishing banned because baby fish might start crying if daddy fish is taken away by the big mean fisherman.”

“Richard, you really are letting myself and Arden have it with both barrels aren't you? I'm not sure which part of which post of mine could fairly be called 'ill informed spoutings', do anglers sit holding a rod to catch a fish and then throw it back or don't they?
Also not sure why you would consider me arrogant, although I must admit to having a magnet on my 'fridge which states: 'everyone is entitled to my opinion'.”

“Arden, the fact that you need to split hairs over a statement that clearly correlates with the topic being discussed shows how weak your argument is. Plus on the evidence of your original comment your thought process is abstract to say the least, makes me wonder if you can't really help it hence getting all emotional over fish and not recognising that the benefits of responsible fishing outweigh such juvenile concerns”

“Richard, I never mentioned injury, I mentioned pain. Do please read what people post.
To explain the difference is clearly necessary to someone like you. Pain can be experienced without injury, same with humans as well”

“Dawn, whatever your point of view you still display the arrogance of someone who thinks that their singular ideology should be accepted by everyone, hence the ill informed spoutings you choose to share about a pastime and sport that is not to your liking. Arden if you can't see the difference between humans, cats, dogs and fish then good luck to you. I know enough about fishing to know that if done properly no harm needs to occur, the fact that people are different means that the effects of having a hook in our mouths would cause injury. That's because Arden we are not the same.”

“Two follow up observations, firstly David, I believe the definitions of pastime and sport are at great variance, surely sport implies an element of competitiveness, fat chance for the fish! Also, Richard, please don't worry for me, apart from the obvious light heartedness of my comment re watching paint dry, I did state it was in preference to fishing, not any other pastime!”

“So animals don't feel pain then, Richard? Certain are you? What type of animal then deserves consideration as a human would? A dog or cat perhaps”

“Dawn my dear, if millions of people like to fish then your deliberately negative summary is clearly not the reality. I don't fish but if watching paint drying is preferable to you than actually doing something then I worry for you. Also meat lover, these are fish for crying out loud, attributing human feelings to animals is a bit GCSE to say the least. animals”

“How would you like a barb in your throat, not as if you are going to be eaten”

“Well, each to their own, dawn. Some folk think football is just kicking a piece of leather about and other view rugby as egg chasing!!

They are all a pastime and can easily be considered a "sport", that is not unreasonable.”