Boating and Fishing Superstitions

[Panamoka_Bassin]

Being around boats and fishing all my life, I have heard of many different superstions and sayings regarding the things that happen while at sea.  Here's some that I can remember:

Never whistle in the wheel house; you're calling the wind up

Never look back to the dock as you leave

Never bring bananas on board, nor a woman, a dog, or a sinister minister

Never say the word "knife" on board, say blade instead

Dolphins riding with you on the way out is bad luck, when you come back, they're good luck

I'm not sure where any of these came from, nor if there's any validity to them, but I do actually pay attention to them.  Like I said, I'm superstitious, and if keeping my eyes to the bow as I leave means a better trip, well, who am I to risk a bad trip because I simply couldn't keep my eyes from the dock when I left?

Anyone know of any others?  Or maybe if you've heard of these, perhaps where they may have come from?

[Guest the_muddy_man]

One I learned this season is Never I mean NEVERleave a crank bait on the seat in your boat in the end it can cause a lot of pain If you get my meaning if you get my drift

[basspro05]

One of my supersitions is I never fill the livewells when i am waiting to take off for a tournament, the days i do not have fish were the days I was optimistic enough to fill the livewell, and the days i did not fill the livewell before taking off were the days when i had the most success, i dunno???

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Bananas is a story bout a banana boat that sank,...all they found were floating bananas.

The knife/blade one also applies to Gas/fuel

[fishingrulz]

Being around boats and fishing all my life, I have heard of many different superstions and sayings regarding the things that happen while at sea. Here's some that I can remember:

Never whistle in the wheel house; you're calling the wind up

Never look back to the dock as you leave

Never bring bananas on board, nor a woman, a dog, or a sinister minister

Never say the word "knife" on board, say blade instead

Dolphins riding with you on the way out is bad luck, when you come back, they're good luck

I'm not sure where any of these came from, nor if there's any validity to them, but I do actually pay attention to them. Like I said, I'm superstitious, and if keeping my eyes to the bow as I leave means a better trip, well, who am I to risk a bad trip because I simply couldn't keep my eyes from the dock when I left?

Anyone know of any others? Or maybe if you've heard of these, perhaps where they may have come from?

WOW! On my first Black fish trip I did everyone of these things except the first one and the last one(Porpoise only come into the Long Island Sound for one reason...to crap ;D). I looked back at the dock cause we were going slow as hell thats a charter boat for ya though...there was one hell of a women fisher on board. I packed bannas in my cooler. When I needed the knife to cut the crabs I called it a Knife not a blade. Maybe thats why I only had 2 fish the whole time! ;D ;D

[Michael H]

I watched a fishing show and they had a tournament on it and the host went and threw a banana in a competitors boat and they talked to them later and on blast of they lost their landing net and had a tough time catching fish in the morning. So maybe the banana ones real but probably not.

[Sam]

I have no superstitions whatsoever when fishing and that is unusual for me.

My maternal grandmother was a Cajun lady who had a lot of superstitions and she would also put the "Grie Grie" on those she did not like.  Even now I do not change positions when the Tigers are on a long drive or are doing well in a game.

I also wear the same LSU tee shirt if the Tigers win their game for the next game and will eat the same snacks for the next game, too.

When playing sports I always got dressed the same way and a number of my LSU college friends who played football for LSU would dress out for the games in the same manner.

Pete Maravich (Pistol Pete) wore the same sweat socks all season for good luck.  He never washed them.

My baseball friends are totally overboard with superstitions.  They MUST put on their uniform in the same manner; leave the dugout the same way; step on one of the bases each time; put their glove down a certain way; handle the bat in a specific manner; and the list goes on.

Now that you have made me think about superstitions on the boat I will probably go crazy and end up in a mental ward.  Thanks a lot!!!!!

[paparock]

One I learned this season is Never I mean NEVERleave a crank bait on the seat in your boat in the end it can cause a lot of pain If you get my meaning if you get my drift

It sounds like you got the point muddy_man or was it more than one point? ;D

OHHHH!

[Guest avid]

I think baseball players are the most superstitious.

fisherman come close.  I don't feel right unless I'm wearing my camo mesh cap.

[fishbear]

Superstitions are crazy.  Just because I hook the boat up a certain way every time.  Just because I refuse to leave unless I have my camo hat.  Just because I hang my lucky rabbits foot off the bow of the boat.  Just because I do a chant, and make an offering to the fish gods before and after I am done fishing.  Just because I always cast off the starboard side of the boat first.

Man, superstitious???  Never! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Tom Bass]

I never thought I had any boating or fishing superstitions until I bought a fairly expensive fish stringer with a hefty quality yellow nylon cord. I swear, if I break that stringer out I catch no fish at all. This goes for boat and shore fishing. It doesn't matter what kind of fishing I am doing or even if I don't plan to keep any fish at all. If I have that stringer around I catch nothing.

I am not a superstitious man but that stringer has to go.

[cart7t]

I used to think I had to wear a red hat to do any good fishing.

I broke myself of that superstition.

[Cajun1977]

ive heard wearing red is a bad color for fishing

[bassmasta7]

"I'm not superstitious 'cause that's bad luck"

Well I dont call what i am being SUPERstitious, I more of just stitious. I dont have any superstitions fishing wise but I was a baseball player for 11 years so i had a couple baseball superstitions. I have a couple superstitions when watching the Cardinals on TV. Im going to tray and list some of them.

If Jeff Suppan is pitching I must change the channel every half inning so I dont watch him pitch.

I had a red Cardinals wristband that I took off only twice last year. (It was to pitch in a baseball game and since i took it off they lost in the playoffs last year)

When I need a rally and am watching the cardinals only in person, I rub my chin until the pitcher steps on the rubber, then I tap my chin until he releases the ball, then I rub my chin again. I have used this in two games and it has worked every single time. I shouldnt even be talking about it.

When on a baseball field, never step on the chalk

One waggle of my bat then a squat and a pivot then i am ready to hit

I hold my breath when the pitcher delivers the ball

If a batter is hitting that hasnt gotten a HR all season, make a bet with my dad that he will hit a HR (the batter will then hit a HR because my dad is more unlucky than me)

If they bring up a graphic on TV that says a batter hasnt got a hit in like 30 AB's, dont mention it or say he sucks to whoever is listening because he will somehow here you and will be determined to get a hit

Never make a bet that your team is going to win because they will then lose and you will be out x dollars

That brings me to my next one, bet against your team becuase they will then win the game and you will only lose $5, I am willing to pay for a win

For you baseball fans, you may remember the Cards 3 run 9th inning 2 out rally against the astros in the 2005 NLCS. You're welcome. I used the power of the previously mentioned wristband. I just rub it constantly and its magical power comes out. The wristband has since been destroyed because the Cardinals lost the next game.

Talking about my superstitions makes that superstition become ineffective. (that is a superstition that will blow your mind if you think about what i just said)

These are only some of my superstitions. As you can see baseball games are very stressful to me but in the end it is worth it. Afterall, who won the world series this year???

(dont worry i am not crazy)