What's the deal with bananas & fishing?

There are lots of stories, but it all points to one point- some believe bananas will give them bad luck. Personally, I don't really mind.

Here's some of the origins:

(1) Someone always slip on a banana skin

(2) In early times, ships participating in transatlantic crossings usually stops at tropical islands, most common food available were usually box of bananas, and in those boxes it's easy to find vermins, probably due to the moist tropical condition. The vermins would breed inside the sheep, therefore damaging other goods, or even the ship itself. Worst, if the crew and passenger comsumes containmated food, it's unlikely that they will make it to the destination and maintain good health.

(3) It's believed that if bananas are placed near other fruits, it will cause the fruit to ripen way quicker then go off quicker. Not a good idea for sea travel. I cannot confirm this one since I am no fruit expert.

(4) Bad luck. Just bad luck.

You can find the information from the links below

http://www.azinet.com/captjim/bananas.htm

Here's a story about the banana issues

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?t=...

Lots of people still believe it

Fishing Bananas

In years past, worldwide maritime superstitions have led some to believe that the Banana at Sea is detrimental to life and property. Today, and most of the later part of the twentieth century they are just considered bad luck. This superstition is carried mostly by marlin fisherman who believe that a banana on board will jinx the vessel and anything that could go wrong will go wrong. From Boston to the south end of America, Australia westward to Kona, Hawaii, talk with any of these fisherman and you will find those bananas are not allowed in their boats.

What facts do we have to substantiate these superstitions? Back in the early 1700's when the Spanish would travel throughout the South Atlantic and Caribbean trading goods, it is believed that a good number of those boats that did not return home had bananas in their cargo. The Spaniards would sail around the Caribbean trading for whatever the Queen might want, or what might bring them a handsome price back home, with their final stop been Cuba. There they would load up with bananas heading north out of Havana, pick up the gulf stream in the Florida straits which would aid them in getting home. The boats that did not make it were supposedly carrying our little yellow friends.

I don't remember all the details but the gist of it was a boat was over loaded with bananas and sank off the Fla. coast years ago and lives were lost. The story was told to me by a captain of a party boat which had listed among it's posted party boat rules, NO BANANAS. I don't know if there's any truth to that or if it's just an urban legend thing. One time someone fishing on that boat asked him about the banana thing and said they had brought some. The capt. took the bananas and threw them back onto the dock.

Saw a pro fisherman say that on a show a couple of weeks ago, they said it was just bad luck....even to eat bananas before you go out fishing. I think that may be derived from the fact that bananas will mak you have to poop, no fun for the rest of the fisherman out at sea, smelly head is bad.

I've seen this Q posted before, about 2, maybe 3 months ago.

I don't believe or condone such rubbish. Perhaps its origins are the same as the one about tomatoe's being poisonous.

That's two things that the Eyetalian's have imported, with pasta being imported from the Orient, and tomatoes being imported from the new world (America). Anybody up for pizza?

Goodluck & Good fishing

you would be eating extra protien to shed pounds. additionally it quite is quite substantial to consume first factor interior the morning to start your metabolism. yet here is what i could say your energy for the day have been: Lunch: 2 hundred-250 depending on how would carrots you ate... Dinner: 4 hundred-500 cal. as quickly as back depending on how lots rice you ate... Chocolate: 50cal quite you at the instant are not eating sufficient to lose fat...this could basically have you ever dropping muscle! you would be having between 1200-1500 cal an afternoon. and don't ignore to artwork out =)

Supposedly the scent will stop the fish wanting to take your bait, personally i think its not true, Ive seen anglers eat bananas and then catch plenty of fish, myself included.

Never heard that one. Maybe they don't want slippery banana peels on the deck of a boat.

its bad luck to have bannanas on a boat