No Bananas Allowed: Why Bananas Are Bad Luck on Fishing Boats

If you’ve been on a fishing boat before, you may have heard an unusual rule from the captain or crew: No bananas allowed on board! While it might seem like a quirky superstition, this belief has been passed down for centuries among sailors and fishermen alike. Let’s dive deeper into why bananas are believed to bring bad luck on fishing boats and explore some fascinating stories and theories behind the tradition.

The Maritime Origins of the Banana Superstition

The superstition around bananas dates back to the 1700s during the age of sea trade. Bananas, being a highly perishable fruit, were a common cargo on ships traveling from tropical regions like the Caribbean and Central America. However, there were several reasons why sailors began associating bananas with bad luck:

1. Pests and Spoilage:
   Ships carrying bananas had to travel fast to avoid the fruit rotting, and this haste may have contributed to accidents at sea. Furthermore, bananas were known to attract unwanted pests, like rats, insects, and even venomous spiders. These pests could infest the ship’s cargo, causing disruptions and potential health risks to the crew. According to some accounts, deadly banana spiders (a.k.a. Brazilian wandering spiders) were believed to hitch rides on banana shipments, leading to bites that sickened or even killed sailors .

2. Fishing Folklore:
   Fishermen often claimed that bringing bananas aboard spelled disaster for the day’s catch. There’s a common belief that bananas would somehow scare the fish away or make them less likely to bite. Whether there’s any truth to this or not, the superstition persisted. On a practical level, the presence of bananas on board fast-moving ships might have led to less time for fishing, further fueling the idea that bananas brought bad luck to fishermen.

3. Shipwrecks and Disasters:
   Another explanation is that bananas became linked with shipwrecks and other misfortunes. Ships that carried bananas, being quick-moving and often overloaded, were more prone to accidents. Over time, sailors began associating bananas with misfortune. Some even claimed that the natural gases emitted by ripening bananas could ferment and cause flammable conditions in the cargo hold . There are also tales of ships carrying bananas mysteriously vanishing, further reinforcing the idea that the fruit brought disaster.

Should You Leave the Bananas at Home?

So, is there any truth to this banana superstition? While there’s no scientific evidence to prove that bananas cause bad fishing or accidents at sea, many fishermen prefer not to tempt fate. The no-banana rule is often more about respecting long-standing traditions and ensuring that everyone feels confident and positive about the day’s fishing.

For many captains and crews, fishing is not just about skill but also about superstition. Whether it’s a lucky hat, a favorite lure, or simply avoiding bananas, fishermen take these rituals seriously. And when you’re out on the open water, with unpredictable weather and fish that don’t always bite, even a small superstition can feel like a comforting measure of control.

Sasquatch Sport Fishing, like many other Pacific Northwest charters, advises guests not to bring bananas along for their trips. While this may be a lighthearted tradition, it’s one rooted in centuries of maritime belief and practice.

Conclusion

Whether or not you believe in the banana superstition, it’s an interesting and enduring part of fishing culture. Rooted in history, the idea that bananas bring bad luck has traveled from the merchant ships of the 1700s to today’s fishing charters. So, the next time you head out for a day on the water, leave your bananas at home!