I don't think the guy was trying to act tough. I think he was just trying to fish and sea lions make it extremely difficult.
My father-in-law was a commercial fisherman and the sea lions were a huge problem for fishermen. Are people evil for killing termites that are destroying their house? What living things are alright to kill?
You wrote:
“Are people evil for killing termites that are destroying their house?”
No. Of course fish bait is just fish bait and you expect wild animals to wonder off with your bait if they get a chance. That’s why they’re called WILD.
“What living things are alright to kill?”
Certainly not something that isn’t yours, that you don’t have a license for, that is federally protected and that will land you in jail. How’s that for starters?
The man is a moron. A sea lion steals your bait? Annoying, yes. But you don’t stab the darn WILD sea lion for it. You try again, or go somewhere else. That’s better than going to jail any day.
Lock the punk up.
This guy was fishing for sport, not for a living. Its a defenseless animal, who was doing what comes natural to it, eat fish, and to stab it just because it took bait off your hook is a cowardly act.