No Bananas?

[Bassblaster]

Okay, I need to hear the story behind this. I see comments about this on the site, and one of you even has his boat and site named after this. Someone told me that having bananas on a boat is bad luck, but what's the origin of this thing?

Something this often said and used has to have a bunch of good stories behind it.

 

[scott craven]

There are many stories why bananas have been thought of as bad luck on boats. This is only one of the nautical superstitions that I know of and is particularly prevalent amongst watermen. Many stories have banana oil rubbing off on ones hands and “spooking" the fish; therefore the fish don't bite. There is always the story of a crew member slipping on the banana peel left on the deck. Some say that bananas give you the runs so you are always in the marine head and can't catch fish because you are busy "draining the pipes". Many other stories are told about bad luck and bananas, however the one that I find most plausible is a historical one.
Back in the days of the transatlantic crossings by wooden sailing ships many hazards would befall the captains, crew and passengers. Disease, pirates, shipwrecks, storms, etc., claimed the lives of a good percentage of the captains, crew and passengers attempting the dangerous voyage. Needless to say, a transatlantic crossing in the 17th and 18th centuries was a very risky endeavor. Often the vessels would stop along the way in tropical islands to gather provisions such as food and water. There the passengers and crew would often purchase wooden crates of bananas from the locals and bring them aboard the ship. These crates would have all manner of critters in them such as bugs, spiders, vermin and snakes.
These critters would make their way into the bilges of the ships, multiply, and then find their way into the captain's quarters. The captains circulated the rumor that bananas were bad luck in an attempt to keep the critters off the ship and out of their cabin. The crew and
passengers were more than eager to follow suit because of the inherent risk of the crossing. So, if the captain announced prior to the voyage that bananas were bad luck and not allowed aboard the vessel, everyone complied. You must remember that these were the days of burning witches and the like, so superstitions were taken very seriously. Watermen are a mysterious lot. While we are known for our simple pragmatism, we also have many odd quirks. Superstitions have been prevalent on almost every vessel I have worked on. I feel that this is due to the nature of a waterman in that he sees the randomness of the world around him juxtaposed with the rhythmic, seasonal flows of nature and then tries to reconcile these observations into some sort of personal and/or environmental order. As Stevie Wonder (a blind man) pointed out so eloquently: "When you believe in things you can't understand, that's superstition".

 

[trophywife]

one extra large banana was passed around a few boats in bamfield,,, woke up to a 4' banana at the helm.....i often put them in my dads boat after we have placed bets on the days catch, fun superstition for sure, always check the guests lunch bags for bananas,, thrown a few while trollng into other boats also...

 

[Charter Tofino]

That big bamfield banana has travelled halfway across the country!Anyone know if hes still alive? I know searun is familiar with him and i believe he also told us the explination of how bananas came to be bad luck.

If its a derby i try to bring out a handful of bananas and chuck them on the bows of the ushual suspects before dropping the lines. Works like a charm.

 

[profisher]

I would agree with Cravens 17th -18th century origins. This superstition isn't just a local one. I've had people on my boat from all over the globe and it seems it is known by many from many regions. Something that would have spread long ago during a time when such things would have been taken seriously. I don't believe in it but after 6hrs of no action, I usually find myself asking if anyone has bananas in their coolers.

 

[yo mama]

its funny how many guides get caught up in that one. I used to rub them on the bait to prove a point. Actually though i caught more with the banana scent on the gear. You should of seen the look on a couple local guides on here when i pulled one out of the lunch bag during a trip on there boat!

 

[bryce]

its a good excuse if your not getting them

 

[porcupine]

I read ( about 30 years ago) that they did a test at one of the universities around Seattle and that it actually was found that one of the chemicals in/on the skin of the banana was a fish repellent. It's no bananas for me!

 

[Charlie]

I personally believe the banana superstitions probably originated with the banana boats of the Caribbean trade. There are many theories on why people believe bananas are bad luck. One is that boats carrying bananas don't catch fish. The origin of this belief dates back to the Caribbean trade of the 1700s. The wooden sailing boats had to move quickly to deliver bananas before they spoiled, and fishermen had a hard time trolling for fish on such fast-moving boats, which is how I believe the superstition came about.

Another is the superstition originated during that time is that bananas will cause a boat to sink. This belief developed after many boats never made it to their destinations, and all of the doomed boats were carrying bananas.

One of the originations is that banana cargo could actually kill a man. In actuality, fermenting bananas do give off methane gas, which could conceivably get trapped below deck and kill any crewmembers unlucky enough to be working in the hold.

And then the other popular theory that venomous spiders, snakes, etc hitched rides in bananas, and once those bananas were onboard, the boat would be host to any number of those lethal critters.

And then of course, there's the theory that banana peels cause crew members to slip and fall on deck.

So, take your pick, as how it got started! J

I will never want to interfere with anyone’s superstitions, as I seem to have had a few in my past also. Don’t even ask my friends about giving a certain red shirt “a proper burial at sea,” as they seemed to think that shirt was the reason I caught more salmon then they! Therefore, when it was time for that shirt to go away, they insisted I take it fishing and do the proper thing! If someone happens to be a little superstitious about some things, it’s probably better to just go with the flow! For those that don’t know… that banana superstition is quite serious to some, and it is all over the world, especially Florida, Mexico, and Hawaii! Don’t even think about bananas and fishing in Kona! I would suggest not taking any bananas on a fishing boat, without asking first! J

The facts though, just might be a tad bit different. Plant scents such as anise, “banana oil”, and garlic extracts do have some attracting ability, not as much as amino acids but they are NOT a repellent. Those plant extracts, including "banana oil" have been proven to effectively cover human odors, along with the other bad odors that might be on your bait. They have also all been around, and used for years including banana oil... Cossack Bait Products Anise and Garlic Gel; Atlas Mike’s Glow Scent Jel and Anise Oil; and Fish Formula SparklScales. Then there is this one. If you by chance fish for bass (which I have done a lot of) you really might want to try, “Mister Twister Banana Oil.” Yep, that is used in the production (and on) their soft artificial baits to make them smell and taste like, “Bananas!” That would be Patent 4993183, Issued on February 19, 1991.
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/4993183/description.html
http://www.delphion.com/details?pn10=US04993183

For you guys that want to eat a banana on my boat – go for it. They are actually not only good for you they just might mask one of those offensive scents! In my particular case, if you are fishing my boat, you had better bring at least two, one being for me! J

I would highly suggest checking with both your fishing partners, and the boat owner? I also probably would not be taking any suitcases and/or banana products, of any kind, on any boat, especially one named “No Bananas”! J

 

[Aces]

its funny how many guides get caught up in that one. I used to rub them on the bait to prove a point. Actually though i caught more with the banana scent on the gear. You should of seen the look on a couple local guides on here when i pulled one out of the lunch bag during a trip on there boat!

I'm with yo mama. I eat a banana every morning on my boat - they are good for you like Charlie says. It's like those Scotty black boxes, if you get confidence from them or tossing bananas off the boat - go for it.

 

[Osama Bin Hopper]

I may have found the XL Bamfield bannana in the cuddy of the Grady just after Bobber Jon fvcked off out of town...

It will resurface soon enough... mwwaahahaha!

 

[Kildonan]

One day on an outing with Wolf, We are on our way to the fishing grounds, Roy slows the boat for a minute and asks "I hope none of you guys have bananas in your lunch?!!!" My buddy Andy, a complete rookie at this says, "Ya, I have a couple in my lunch".

Roy stops the boat and gets on the radio and calls No Bananas and says, "CAN YOU BELIEVE ONE OF THESE GUYS HAS BANANAS IN HIS LUNCH?!!" Andy looks at me all concerned and confused. Roy says... "C'mon, throw them overboard or we're not moving any further!!" Andy looks at me all puzzled and I just shrugged and laughed, he threw the bananas out the back and we carried on with Roy shaking his head.

Hahahahahaaaa it was awesome. Andy still talks about that.

 

[wolf]

LOL LOL yep bad karma i remeber that day and we got fish too i think????? LOL LOL
When I worked at the lodge us guides would have a muffin and coffee on the way to the fishing grounds every morning one day the owner who also fishes is all upset .... the cook made banana muffins .... She wasnt allowed to after that LOL LOL
and also no tin can of food was ever allowed to sit on the shelf upside down.... another superstition....


Wolf

 

[Kildonan]

Ya, we got some. The prairie boys feasted on halibut and crab that night. Good job we deep sixed the bananas or no telling what may have happened. LOL

 

[spring time]

another superstition is never leave port on a friday its okay 1159 thursday or 12 01 saturday but not friday

 

[profisher]

So if your a 7th day follower Saturday is out for religious reasons, Friday is out for superstitious reasons, Sunday is out for family reasons....anymore that might prevent someone from actually going to work? LOL

 

[bananas]

When i was a young buck working up at NorthIsland lodge in Langara we used to chuck boxes of bananas in the water as we were unloading the planes it would drive the owner crazy!lol

While up there and out guiding i'd get the where are you from? i'd answer from vic,sooke area and at least half the guests would answer oh i've been on a fishing charter there. Then i'd reply with, who did you fish with? Not one person could remember who they went with.So when i started up my company i wanted to come up with a name that people wouldn't forget.

No Bananas Charters even if they forget part of it they always remember the bananas part.

I have a laminated explanation about why bananas are bad luck on my boat and most of the reasons which have already been stated are on it.

 

[chris73]

Bananas are most welcome on my boat - actually encouraged. Simply because we would catch too much without them!

 

[Tyee Slayer]

Bananas I wouldn't worry about, I would be more concerned with someone peeling an orange and then rigging up. I have not personally done it, but am told that the citric acid from the orange will deter fish. We all know how strong the odour on our hands is after peeling one, and we also know how acute fish can smell so it only makes sense (no pun intended) that it could affect your day on the water. Try it next time out, give your buddy an orange, but don't touch it yourself and see what happens. I wouldn't tell him right away if you are the only one catching that day.

 

[Fish Assassin]

I eat oranges all the time on my boat. But as Bassblaster found out, there are no bananas aloud on my boat.