What are the best books you ever read in regard to fishing?

TheFrood

TheFrood

Well-Known Member
#4
#4
Heretical Fishing - Haylock Jobson

Actually I'm just joking about that one. It's actually kind of a weird sci-fi kung-fu fantasy
wuxia type story set in what seems to be a videogame world where fishing and seafood
is looked upon as heretical for reasons that don't really make much sense. I just wanted
to feel like part of the conversation.

I will be rereading some books I haven't thought of in quite a while though from the
above posts. I think I have an idea of what books I want to keep physical copies of on
hand now too.

Would Moby Dick by Herman Melville be considered a fishing novel?

As an aside Google says:
https://www.google.com/search?q=books+with+a+fishing+theme


When I asked Chat GPT for a list it gave me a BUNCH of decent looking responses maybe
some of which you can recommend?

--- Begin Quoted Material ---
Here’s a curated list of fiction and nonfiction books where fishing is central—either as the main theme, a dominant activity, or a core part of the characters’ lives. The selection includes literary fiction, adventure, memoirs, and classic outdoor writing:

🧶 Literary Fiction & Novels

These books use fishing as a central motif, activity, or character anchor.

  1. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
    • Possibly the most iconic fishing story ever written. A Cuban fisherman’s epic battle with a giant marlin.
  2. A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean
    • A beautifully written novella blending fly fishing, family, and faith in Montana. Deeply poetic and personal.
  3. Big Two-Hearted River by Ernest Hemingway (short story)
    • A quiet, introspective story about a WWI veteran who goes fishing to heal from trauma. Found in In Our Time.
  4. The River Why by David James Duncan
    • A philosophical and humorous coming-of-age novel about a young man's obsession with fishing and nature.
  5. The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen (partly)
    • While not solely about fishing, it includes extensive trout fishing experiences during a spiritual journey in the Himalayas.
  6. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday
    • A satirical novel about an absurd political plan to introduce salmon fishing to the Yemeni desert. Funny and clever.

🐟 Adventure & Outdoor Narratives

More action-oriented or based on actual expeditions with heavy fishing content.

  1. The Longest Silence: A Life in Fishing by Thomas McGuane
    • A collection of thoughtful essays on sport fishing from one of America's most literary anglers.
  2. On the Run: An Angler's Journey Down the Striper Coast by David DiBenedetto
    • Follows the author’s journey chasing the striped bass migration along the Atlantic coast.
  3. Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky
    • Part history, part ecological treatise, but filled with real fishing lore, stories, and historical detail.
  4. The Founding Fish by John McPhee
    • McPhee’s blend of memoir, history, and natural science, focused on the American shad.
  5. An Entirely Synthetic Fish: How Rainbow Trout Beguiled America by Anders Halverson
    • A compelling history of the rainbow trout in America and its impact on ecosystems and culture.

🎣 Memoir & Reflective Nonfiction

These are deeply personal and often spiritual writings focused around fishing.

  1. Lines on the Water by David Adams Richards

  • A lyrical Canadian memoir of fly fishing and life on the Miramichi River.

  1. Trout Bum by John Gierach

  • A modern classic of fly fishing essays. Witty, smart, and soulful stories of a life built around trout streams.

  1. Dances with Trout by John Gierach

  • Another great entry by Gierach, expanding on the joys and quirks of the angling life.

  1. Fisherman's Blues: A West African Community at Sea by Anna Badkhen

  • A poetic account of time spent in a West African fishing village, blending anthropology, memoir, and philosophy.

📚 Bonus: Fishing-Heavy Children’s/YA Books

  • The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman – Features scenes involving fishing during an adventure.
  • Hatchet by Gary Paulsen – While more survival-focused, fishing is a key skill the protagonist develops.
--- End Quoted Material
 
Last edited:
TheFrood

TheFrood

Well-Known Member
#5
#5
Wow. So was thinking about whether to edit the above but Chat GPT gave me an even better (looks so at least) more relevant
list specifically about shore, surf, and pier fishing featured books and stories. Pasting it below.


--- Begin Quoted Material ---
🎣 Top Picks: Saltwater Coastal Fishing (Shore, Surf, and Pier)
📚 Nonfiction / Memoir / Essays

  1. On the Run: An Angler's Journey Down the Striper Coast by David DiBenedetto
    • A standout book for this exact niche. The author follows the striped bass migration from Maine to North Carolina, surfcasting and talking to pier rats, beach bums, and serious anglers.
  2. Surfcasting Around the Block by Dennis Zambrotta
    • Focuses on the surfcasting community around Block Island. A mix of memoir, history, and technique, but rich with the culture of shore-based saltwater fishing.
  3. The Last Best Day: A Surfcasting Memoir by Tony Maja
    • Memoir-style reflections on surfcasting, life, and Long Island’s south shore. Deeply nostalgic and full of wisdom from years of saltwater fishing.
  4. Seasons on the Flats by Bill Horn
    • While focused on saltwater fly fishing in the Florida Keys, it includes shore and flat experiences that echo the rhythms of nearshore life.
  5. The Striper Surf by Frank Daignault
    • A legend in the surfcasting world, Daignault blends memoir, lore, and tactical advice for fishing striped bass from the shore.
  6. Reading the Water: Stories and Essays of Surf Fishing by Robert Post
    • Stories and essays focused entirely on fishing from the shore—includes both reflections and practical anecdotes.

🧶 Fiction with Strong Saltwater Shore Fishing Themes

  1. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
    • While technically offshore fishing, it embodies the ethos of saltwater fishing and coastal life. Essential for tone and philosophy.
  2. The River Swimmer (novella) by Jim Harrison
    • Features a strong waterman character who finds solace in swimming and fishing in rivers and out into Great Lakes surf zones—coastal in feeling.
  3. Casting into the Light: Tales of a Fishing Life by Janet Messineo
    • Memoiristic, but reads like fiction in parts. Tells the story of a woman becoming a master shore-based surf angler on Martha’s Vineyard.

🌊 Regional / Culture-Focused Coastal Fishing Books

  1. The Moon Pulled Up an Acre of Bass by Peter Kaminsky
    • Chronicles an autumn spent surfcasting for striped bass in Montauk, NY. Mix of nature writing, memoir, and humorous local color.
  2. In Pursuit of Trophy Striped Bass: A Comprehensive Guide to Surfcasting by Zeno Hromin
    • While instructional, it's filled with firsthand accounts and the mindset of a dedicated surf fisherman.
  3. Beneath a Wild Sky by William G. Tapply
    • Though better known for his freshwater writing, this book includes essays on coastal fishing that hit the mark emotionally.

🧾 For a Quirky Bonus Read

  1. Hook, Line and Sinister: Mysteries to Reel You In edited by T. Jefferson Parker
    • A collection of fishing-themed crime stories. Some feature coastal and shore-based fishing in the plot.
--- End Quoted Material ---

Looks like I have a new reading list...

Here is a link to the entire Chat GPT conversation:
https://chatgpt.com/share/6824b11e-668c-8003-9315-5da74eeaf28f
 
D

dosabear

New member
#6
#6
I recently read The Sea Forager's Guide to the Northern California Coast by Kirk Lombard. It's more instructional than inspiring but I was also pleasantly surprised by volume of poetry and sections in verse about our beloved local species. Special focus on often overlooked creatures. I would recommend; Especially good for those interested in physically entering the intertidal and not discouraged by the challenges that entails.
 
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