Growing up with a commercial fisherman for a father and all his salty friends made me realize early on that not every part of fishing revolves around skill and finding fish. There are so many things that anglers think about that most people wouldn’t even consider before heading out for a day of fishing.
Spend enough time around fishermen, and you’ll quickly realize something else, too: Anglers are some of the most superstitious people on earth. Maybe it comes from chasing creatures we can’t see. Or maybe it’s because fishing can humble you no matter how skilled you are. One day you look like a genius; the next, you can’t even buy a bite. Over the years, fishermen have developed countless rituals, sayings, and beliefs to explain the unexplainable. There’s always a way to redirect blame for lackluster fishing at the end of the day, and superstitions are a great scapegoat.
Some of them are downright hilarious. Some are oddly believable. And a few of them seem to hold true often enough that even skeptical anglers quietly follow them “just in case.” Here are some of the biggest fishing superstitions that have been passed down from generation to generation — many of which have certainly stuck with me over the years.
Wind From the East, Fish Bite the Least
Nearly every fisherman has heard the saying “Wind from the west, fish bite best. Wind from the east, fish bite least.” They’re words my father lived by every single day looking at the weather.
Whether you’re bass fishing, offshore trolling, or chasing trout in a stream, anglers everywhere seem to dread an east wind — especially on Lake Erie (if you know, you know). Some swear they cancel a trip the second the forecast shows it.
There may actually be a little science behind this one. East winds are often associated with changing weather systems and rising barometric pressure, which can negatively affect fish activity. Fish often feed aggressively ahead of fronts but become sluggish after they pass. Also, at least for us northeast anglers, a west wind is the predominant wind — not an east one. When the wind blows opposite its typical direction, fish shut down since they are unaccustomed to the change.
Still, plenty of anglers treat it less like science and more like a curse. We’ve all heard guys at the ramp blaming the east wind for their troubles before they even launch their boats. But honestly, after enough miserable days fighting cold east winds and tough bites, it gets hard not to believe it yourself.
Never Bring Bananas on the Boat
No fishing superstition is more legendary than the banana curse. For centuries, sailors have been convinced that bananas bring terrible luck aboard. It’s a persistent belief rooted in the days when sailors went to sea with months’ worth of food; bananas were always the first of the provisions to go bad.
Modern fishermen have carried that belief into today’s boats. Some anglers won’t allow bananas anywhere near their rig — not in the cooler, not in a lunch bag, not even banana-flavored snacks. You can count me among them: Every time a customer brings bananas on my boat, they end up overboard.
Stories about the banana curse range from simple bad fishing to complete mechanical disasters. Broken-down boats, lost fish, storms rolling in, or someone getting hooked have all been blamed on a hidden banana.
Most fishermen laugh about it publicly but secretly enforce the rule anyway. You’ll see grown men inspecting coolers like customs agents before a tournament blastoff. The funny part is that nearly every angler who claims bananas are bad luck also has a story that made them believers.
No Change in Your Pockets
This is another old-school superstition many fishermen still follow. Some believe coins create bad luck and will keep fish from biting. Others think the jingling noise somehow scares fish away because they can hear it.
In tournament fishing circles especially, you’ll still hear anglers empty their pockets before heading out. Some take it so seriously they won’t even carry keys or unnecessary metal items.
Like most fishing superstitions, there’s no real proof behind it. But when you spend all day getting outfished by your buddy, suddenly those quarters in your pocket start feeling suspicious and have a little added weight of defeat.
The Lucky Hat
Almost every serious fisherman has one, myself included. When I first started my charter business, Natural Outfitters, I made up a bunch of hats. One was light gray and clean. Now after two years, it’s a battered charm forged in fishy memories.
Our lucky hats might be filthy, sun-faded, and held together by overlapping sweat stains, but they are practically sacred. The second an angler catches a personal best or has an incredible day on the water while wearing a previously nondescript cap, that hat becomes an untouchable talisman.
Some guys refuse to wash theirs. Others only wear it during tournaments or on “important” trips. A few believe changing hats mid-day will completely ruin the bite. Personally, I never wash mine, as that would get rid of all its good luck. (Of course, if the lucky hat suddenly stops producing fish, it may quietly disappear forever without explanation.)
First Fish Luck
Many anglers believe the first fish of the day determines how the rest of the trip will go.
If the first fish is a giant, fishermen immediately start dreaming of the banner day that surely lies ahead. If the first fish is tiny or lost at the boat, panic sets in early. For me, if the first fish comes on the first cast of the day, that sets the mood for a horrible day on the water.
Some anglers take it even farther and believe certain species are bad omens. Catching a catfish first while bass fishing? Bad luck. Landing a drum before walleyes? Trouble ahead for the day. It sounds ridiculous until you experience one of those magical mornings where the first cast produces a big fish and everything just seems to go downhill from there.
Rituals Before Launching
Some fishermen are creatures of habit to an extreme degree, and I for sure am one of them. They launch in the same order, eat the same breakfast, stop at the same gas station, or play the same songs on the drive to the lake.
My repeated ritual actually begins with how I get out of bed in the morning and extends to loading up my boat. To me, sometimes that makes a difference how I will do on the water. Why? All because of superstition.
Tournament anglers especially become incredibly reliant on their rituals. When money and pressure are involved, routines create confidence. And confidence catches fish. If a certain routine preceded a great day once, many anglers will stick with it forever. Break the routine, and suddenly every missed fish feels depressingly destined.
Why Fishermen Believe in Superstitions
At the end of the day, fishing is unpredictable. You can study maps, electronics, weather, moon phases, and seasonal patterns, yet still struggle for bites. Superstitions help fishermen feel like they have some control over something ultimately uncontrollable.
Most anglers know deep down that the first fish of the day doesn’t predict a thing and pocket change isn’t ruining the bite. But fishing has always been about tradition, storytelling, and confidence just as much as it is about science. And honestly, that’s part of what makes fishing great.
Because even in today’s world of fancy and advanced technology, there’s still plenty of room for a lucky hat, a fear of east winds, and tossing an errant banana overboard, just to be safe.
