Fact or Superstition?

Can certain hard-to-define intangibles really attract fish—or not?

- John Brownlee

Fishermen can be a superstitious lot, putting credence in all sorts of odd notions they believe will enhance their luck. The best-known belief involves bringing bananas on the boat. Some say it’s the kiss of death, while others say that’s nonsense and freely invite the forbidden fruit aboard.

Other old saws have firm opinions about the way to ascend and descend a tower. Some old-timers say you absolutely must come down the same side of the tower you went up, or terrible consequences will befall you. Woe unto him that ascends the starboard side and descends the port.

Then there’s the concept of why certain boats “raise” more billfish than others. The pragmatic among us would say it’s because the successful boats are better prepared, put out a better spread, or have better intel/intuition about where the fish are.

“I have definitely seen certain boats do well in a pack, but can’t say I know enough about why,” says Capt. Ray Rosher of the Miami-based charter boat Miss Britt. “I always thought it had more to do with what was being towed behind it.”