Books (Good reads) about fishing.

[BoatGuy]

I do not believe I'm going fishing anytime soon in this weather. But a good book can be special.
Right now I am starting a John Skinner book, Fishing the Edge.

Anyone have any other great fishing books they like to recommend?

 

[OVERBORED]

Anything by Linda Greenlaw (Perfect Storm) is worth the read.

Also, Dark Noon by Tom Calvin. The story of the sinking of a Montauk boat Pelican.

 

[MakoMatt]

An oldie but goodie….………. John N Cole, STRIPER.

I have a first edition.

 

[MakoMatt]

Another blast from the past for which I have a first edition……..
Peter Benchley, JAWS

 

[Avenger]

Zane Grey and Earnest Hemingway wrote some good fish stories.

Perfect Storm, by Sebastian Junger is just as much about fishing as it is about weather, and rescue swimmers.

I'm slowly nibbling my way through Michener's Chesapeake. A lot to digest, but lots of history of baymen.

 

[BoatGuy]

Anything by Linda Greenlaw (Perfect Storm) is worth the read.

Also, Dark Noon by Tom Calvin. The story of the sinking of a Montauk boat Pelican.

If you ever want to get people to wear a life vest, they have to read Dark Noon.

 

[WhatKnot]

Anything by Linda Greenlaw (Perfect Storm) is worth the read.

Also, Dark Noon by Tom Calvin. The story of the sinking of a Montauk boat Pelican.

Perfect Storm but also a tough read, particularly the very descriptive ending As I remember the last crewman alive at that point.

 

[pequa1]

"Indianapolis" or "In Harm's Way" Spoiler Alert: the sharks win

 

[OVERBORED]

If you ever want to get people to wear a life vest, they have to read Dark Noon.

Amen!

 

[captmike28]

I do not believe I'm going fishing anytime soon in this weather. But a good book can be special.
Right now I am starting a John Skinner book, Fishing the Edge.

Anyone have any other great fishing books they like to recommend?

Michael Tougias is a very well-known author with several best sellers addressing both maritime events and fishing. Two of his titles I have read and would recommend are "Ten Hours Until Dawn" and "The Power of Positive Fishing".

"Ten Hours" is about a heroic but tragic story of a rescue attempt during a blizzard off MA in 1978.
'Positive Fishing" is much more upbeat covering his lifelong friendship with a buddy who fished together both by themselves and with other family members for most of their lives.

Whatever type of subject matter "floats your boat" I think you will enjoy one or the other, maybe both.

 

[Avenger]

Perfect Storm but also a tough read, particularly the very descriptive ending As I remember the last crewman alive at that point.

Just to clarify, Linda Greenlaw did not write Perfect Storm. She was interviewed for it and is portrayed in it, but the book was written by Sebastian Junger. That was the catalyst for her writing career, and she's an excellent author. But credit where it is due.

 

[MakoMatt]

I agree with the Linda Greenlaw recommendations. Here’s two I have and enjoyed…….. ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS and THE HUNGRY OCEAN

 

[OVERBORED]

Linda Greenlaw was captain of the Hannah Boden, sister ship to the Andrea Gail in Perfect Storm hence the parentheses. She's a good writer. In addition to the books above theres one about swordfishing and another as life as a lobster woman on a small Maine island.

I'll also add a book of short fishing stories that we can all relate to by Matt Ahern, now deceased but was a long time writer for the Fisherman magazine.

 

[BoatGuy]

I thought “Fishing with the Bucktail was an excellent book. I went to have Captain John DeMaio sign it. I tried to set up a charter. Unfortunately, I found out that he had pancreatic cancer and was no longer able to accept charters.

 

[BoatGuy]

I'll also add a book of short fishing stories that we can all relate to by Matt Ahern, now deceased but was a long time writer for the Fisherman magazine.

I never remember reading that Matt Ahern passed. I saw a few of his seminars. He was an excellent speaker. He borrowed the old Henry Ford comment regarding color: (paraphrasing) “Use any color bucktail you want, as long as its white”. I still have the Uncle Josh Bucktail Kit he recommended.

If anyone has links to his writing, please post it.

 

[captmike28]

I thought “Fishing with the Bucktail was an excellent book. I went to have Captain John DeMaio sign it. I tried to set up a charter. Unfortunately, I found out that he had pancreatic cancer and was no longer able to accept charters.
View attachment 111410

Capt. John DeMaio was quite a character. Massive ego but he had the skills to back it up.
I did not know him personally but many years ago while Bass fishing was on the downside of the curve, I chartered him for an afternoon trip one cold and windy November day. He managed to find us some Bass casting bucktails to the rocks on the south side of the point. While he produced when the fishing was at its toughest it was also one of those days when you kissed the dock upon returning.

A massive wave blew out 2 of the 3 front windows of the wheelhouse of the old "Vivienne" as saltwater poured down on the engine, which began to stall. We were literally a few feet from the boulders when the engine finally started running again. The following season he wrote up the entire trip as a story for the LIF. He thought it was amusing; my buddies and I thought he was crazy!

 

[captmike28]

I never remember reading that Matt Ahern passed. I saw a few of his seminars. He was an excellent speaker. He borrowed the old Henry Ford comment regarding color: (paraphrasing) “Use any color bucktail you want, as long as its white”. I still have the Uncle Josh Bucktail Kit he recommended.
View attachment 111412

If anyone has links to his writing, please post it.

I never heard Matt Ahern speak live but always loved his writing style and would immediately turn to his articles each week when the new copy of the LIF arrived. IMHO, one of his best stories was when he was still a young boy fishing on the party boats out of Sheepshead Bay. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig showed up to go Cod fishing and Matt got to spend most of the day side by side with the 2 baseball legends. He even had a few pictures of the Yankee greats holding up some nice Cod.

I don't have a link, but I would think if you check out the LIF online site they must have plenty of
Ahern's articles archived. I actually still have my original copy of the magazine with the above-mentioned article. I am saving that for the nostalgic value as I am sure you are holding on to the bucktail kit show above, Guy! Very special memories!!

 

[captmike28]

Linda Greenlaw was captain of the Hannah Boden, sister ship to the Andrea Gail in Perfect Storm hence the parentheses. She's a good writer. In addition to the books above theres one about swordfishing and another as life as a lobster woman on a small Maine island.

I'll also add a book of short fishing stories that we can all relate to by Matt Ahern, now deceased but was a long time writer for the Fisherman magazine.

I agree with the Linda Greenlaw recommendations. Here’s two I have and enjoyed…….. ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS and THE HUNGRY OCEAN
View attachment 111403

I enjoy Linda Greenlaw's writing very much. I did read "The Hungry Ocean" but not "All Fisherman are Liars".
Thanks for the tip, Matt!

 

[OVERBORED]

DiMaio was quite the character. He was just as adept at catching cod as Stripers.

His mate Bobby who later had his own boat "Elizabeth" was a great fisherman in his own right.

Fond are the memories where most charter captains were full time. Now between dock fees, insurance, fuel.....it's just a matter of survival for this once great LI industry.

 

[MakoMatt]

Michael Tougias is a very well-known author with several best sellers addressing both maritime events and fishing. Two of his titles I have read and would recommend are "Ten Hours Until Dawn" and "The Power of Positive Fishing".

"Ten Hours" is about a heroic but tragic story of a rescue attempt during a blizzard off MA in 1978.
'Positive Fishing" is much more upbeat covering his lifelong friendship with a buddy who fished together both by themselves and with other family members for most of their lives.

Whatever type of subject matter "floats your boat" I think you will enjoy one or the other, maybe both.

There was another book titled POSITIVE FISHING. I enjoyed reading many, many years ago. IIRC, it had to do with fly fishing. I just got rid of that book about a month ago, along with about 100 other boating, fishing, type related books. A assortment of how to books, boat building, in wood, fiberglass, fero cement if you remember that, etc. Many of these books I have had for over 50 years. It was time to let them go so I donated them to Goodwill. They have donation centers all over the place down here.

I did keep a few as noted above.