If child battering is considered wrong, then there is no logical reason why the same moral code should not be applied to other living creatures possessing a similar capacity to suffer. Most anglers would intervene if they saw a dog being beaten in the street. Angling is relaxing. Many anglers claim that the main reason they go fishing is because in the countryside they are able to escape the stresses of modern living. However, it should be possible to enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside without feeling the need to abuse its inhabitants.
Anglers are in effect taking out their human-created stress upon an innocent third party.
There are many other leisure activities which do not involve animals.