An investigation into the bioethics of fish pain and suffering leads to a lifestyle-changing discovery for monster-fisher Mark Spitzer.

A bestiary of gar, sharks, ratfish, gaspergou, Monster Fishing probes the human spirit fighting to preserve a planet in distress. After fifty years of fishing waters worldwide, extreme angler Mark Spitzer takes a hard look at his impact on monster fish and their environments. Through action-packed adventures exploring both familiar and foreign waters during a deadly pandemic, this deep dive into the bioethics of fish suffering and stress invites a new way of seeing aquatic species and holding ourselves accountable for the health of our shared planet.
 
Contributor Bio(s)
 
Mark Spitzer is the author of Season of the Gar, Beautifully Grotesque Fish of the American West, and other books. He appeared on the Animal Planet series River Monsters and consulted for National Geographic’s Monster Fish show. Spitzer was professor of creative writing at the University of Central Arkansas and lived part-time in the Mid-Hudson River Valley until the end of his life in 2023.