Is "Mojo" fact or fiction?Superstions on fishing and boating

[BassTracker]

An interesting discussion happened between a friend an I on Friday night, The question of fishing mojo and does it exist. The question came up after both of us fished the incoming tide at nudge beach just after sunset. We were both using the same pound line, same hooks, trace length, bait and very similar rods and reels and yet I outfished him by a ratio of about 6 to 1, even when we swapped setups I was still able to manage about the same average. No this hasn’t always been the case. You could argue I have more experience than my friend and on this occasion I did. BUT there have been many other times where Ive fished with less experienced fishermen and been well and truly outfished using similar gear and not raised a scale while they cleaned up. Usualy these times were accompanied by a period of flat tyres, flat batteries, minor accidents on the way to fish, and the list goes on..

So is there such a thing as mojo?

There are so many superstitions fishermen and boaties believe or don’t believe.

Here are just a few.

Boating

Banana’s onboard a boat are bad luck.

Never start a voyage on the first Monday in April.

This is the day that Cain slew Able.

Don’t start a voyage on the second Monday in August.

This is the day sondom & gommrrah was destroyed.

Starting a cruise on Dec. 31 is bad.

This is the day Judas Iscariat hanged himself.

Black traveling bags are bad luck for a seaman.

Black is the color of death and indicative of the depths of the sea.

Avoid people with red hair when going to the ship to begin a journey.

Red heads bring bad luck to a ship, which can be averted if you speak to the red-head before they speak to you.

Never say good luck or allow someone to say good luck to you unanswered.

If someone says “good luck†to you, it is most assuredly a bad omen and sure to bring about bad luck. The only way this can be countered is by drawing blood. A swift punch in the nose is usually sufficient to reverse this curse.

Avoid Flat-footed people when beginning a trip.

They, like red heads, are bad luck. The danger can be avoided by speaking to them before they speak to you.

A stolen piece of wood mortised into the keel will make a ship sail faster.

A silver coin placed under the masthead ensures a successful voyage.

Disaster will follow if you step onto a boat with your Left Foot first.

Pouring wine on the deck will bring good luck on a long voyage.

An offering to the gods.

Throwing stones into the sea will cause great waves and storms.

A sign of disrespect to the sea, ensuring retaliation in the form of stormy seas.

A stone thrown over a vessel that is putting out to sea ensures she will never return.

A sign of disrespect to the sea, dooming the ship and all aboard.

Flowers are unlucky onboard a ship.

They could later be used to make a funeral wreath for the dead, therefore, becoming a symbol that someone could die on the voyage.

Priests are not lucky to have on a ship.

They dress in black and perform funeral services. They are a symbol of possible death and anything that makes you think of death or dying is a bad omen.

Don’t look back once your ship has left port as this can bring bad luck.

Looking back to port implies that you are not truly ready to brave the seas and complete your voyage, bringing about bad luck on yourself and the ship.

A dog seen near fishing tackle is bad luck.

Black cats are considered good luck and will bring a sailor home from the sea.

While black is the color of death, and black bags or clothing are harbingers of doom, black cats are considered lucky on the sea. Mostly this is believed to be the result of the opposite effect of land based superstition, where a black cat is unlucky.

Swallows seen at sea are a good sign.

Swallows are a land based bird and seeing them at sea implies that land is near and your prospects are clear.

Sighting a curlew at sea is considered bad luck.

A cormorant sighted at sea is bad luck.

Dolphins swimming with the ship are a sign of good luck.

Dolphins are considered a sacred friend of fishermen, they have the good fortunes of man in mind and their presence indicates that you are under their protection.

It is unlucky to kill an albatross.

They host the soul of dead sailors and are considered to be an omen of bad luck at sea, especially if killed.

It is unlucky to kill a gull.

They also contain the souls of sailors lost at sea.

Handing a flag thru the rungs of a ladder is bad luck.

Loosening a mop or bucket overboard is a sign of bad luck.

Repairing a flag on the quarterdeck will bring bad luck.

Turning over a hatch will cause the hold to fill with seawater.

Cutting your hair or nails at sea is bad luck.

These were used as offerings to Proserpina, and Neptune will become jealous if these offerings are made while in his kingdom.

Church Bells heard at sea mean someone on the ship will die.

St. Elmo’s Fire around a sailors head means he will die within a day.

When the clothes of a dead sailor are worn by another sailor during the same voyage, misfortune will befall the entire ship.

If the rim of a glass rings stop it quickly or there will be a shipwreck.

Never say the word Drowned at sea.

The caul of the head of a new-born child is protection against drowning and will bring the owner good luck.

The feather of a wren slain on New Years Day, will protect a sailor from dying by shipwreck.

A ships bell will always ring when it is wrecked.

A shark following the ship is a sign of inevitable death.

Sharks were believed to be able to sense those near death.

A sailor who died from violence or being lost at sea was said to go to “Davy Jone’s Lockerâ€.

A sailor with over 50 years of service was said to go to “Fiddler’s Green†when he died.

If the end of your pole touches the water, you will not be successful at fishing

( I don’t know which pole its talking about but I cant help this one sometimes ;-)

Fishing

The list is endless . . .

• A cloudy day is a good time for fishing.

• A fisherman always throws the first fish he catches back in the water for luck.

• A good time to go fishing is when you see a chicken oiling its feathers.

• A rabbit crossing your path when you are going fishing is a sign of bad luck that day.

• After you have put a worm on the hook, spit on it for good luck.

• Always fish against the wind for luck.

• Carry a fishing pole into the house before you start on a fishing trip and you will not catch any fish.

• Catfish bite well when it thunders.

• Chew anise and spit on your fishing hook for good luck.

• Do not fish when the wind is in the west; the fish will not bite.

• Fish become excited and bite well when it is raining.

• Fish bite best (in daytime) during the dark of the moon because they cannot see in the dark of the moon and are hungrier.

• Fish bite best (at night) on the increase of the moon.

• Fish bite best at night during full moon.

• Fish bite best at night, and if you play a fiddle or guitar, the fish just can't stay in the water but will come to the top because they love the music of a fiddle or guitar.

• Fish bite best when there is a good soft wind from the south or southeast.

• Fish bite well when it is thundering.

• Fish can see upward, but cannot see downward.

• Fish do not bite when the wind is in the south.

• Fish for the first time in the season on Good Friday and you will be lucky at fishing all year.

• Fish on the west side of the bank, if the wind is in the west.

• Fish when the sign is in the "feet' for luck.

• Fish will not bite if it thunders.

• Fish will not bite if you use a bright cork on your line.

• Fish with three or five lines, never with one line, to catch the most fish.

• Fishing on Friday is unlucky.

• Fishing with crossed lines is unlucky.

• Go fishing just after a hard rain.

• Good days to fish are the 17th and 18th of the month.

• If a dragon fly lights on the cork quit fishing for you will catch nothing.

• If a fisherman goes out to fish, he should always pray/ For perpetual sunshine that will not fade away/ And he will have good luck all day.

• If a person goes fishing every Sunday, someday he will catch the devil on his hook and be snatched off the bank into the water and may drown.

• If a rain comes slowly and falls gently, fish will continue to bite.

• If fish flop out of the water, fishing is no good, because they are not hungry and will not bite.

• If fish in a globe are still and inactive, fishing is no good; if fish in a globe are lively, fishing is good.

• If fish in a tank are at the top, it is a good day for fishing; if your fish stay at the bottom, don't go fishing, for it is a poor fishing day.

• If it rains, catfish will bite.

• If on your way to fish, you see a pin, pick it up for luck; failing to pick it up will bring you bad luck.

• If the end of your pole touches the water, you will not be successful at fishing.

• If the wind is in the south and it is cloudy, you can pull out fish as fast as you put your line in the water.

• If you drop your line when going to put it on the pole, throw the line away and attach a new line for you will not get fish on the line you dropped.

• If you go fishing and see a big fish jump up, it will be bad luck for you all day.

• If you go fishing and play a French harp (harmonicon), all the snakes around will come.

• If you go on a fishing party, the first person to catch a fish will have good luck.

• If you go to a pond and make the water real muddy, the fish will all come to the top.

• If you talk while fishing, the fish will hear you and not bite.

• If you want to catch a two or three pound fish, always use a grasshopper for bait.

• If you want to fish for rough fish - cat, buffalo, sturgeon or carp - fish with your bait deep.

• If you want to fish for game fish, fish with your bait shallow.

• If your bait runs out, dip your hook in motor oil; which is very good for catfish.

• It is unlucky to take a dog on a fishing trip.

• It is unlucky to bait your hook with a worm by using your left hand.

• Let your shadow fall on the water while you are fishing and you will scare the fish away.

• Never fish with a seine on a clear night; you will have any luck until you fish on a cloudy night.

• Never let anyone step over your line; it will cause you bad luck.

• Never tell anyone how many fish you have, while you are fishing, or you will be unlucky.

• Put a cigarette paper on your hook, put it in the water and keep walking back and forth with the line to catch bass.

• Put safetida on the bait and fish will bite.

• Saving the first fish caught brings better luck, but throwing it away is like throwing your luck away.

• Spitting on your bait will give you luck.

• The best time to gig fish is when they begin to roll following the first three warm days of spring; and they will roll for three days.

• The person who swears while fishing will not catch a fish.

• The sign of the "fish" is the good time for fishing.

• Throwing a pebble into the water excites the fish and makes them bite.

• To catch sunfish or perch, use salty pork for bait.

• To change poles while fishing will bring you bad luck.

• Turn your pocket inside out and you will catch catfish.

• Use an even number of hooks on your line for luck, as fish will not bite if the number is odd.

• Use cake for bait and you will catch a lot of fish.

• Use dough balls to catch carp.

• When a rain comes rapidly and falls heavily, fish will stop biting.

• When a small minnow jumps out of the water,it will be a great and successful day for you, and you will have good luck all day and come home with lots of fish.

• When owls hoot during the day is a good time for catching catfish.

• When the wind is in the east, fish on the east side of the bank.

• When the wind is in the southwest/ The fish bite the best.

• When you go fishing, if you will take an old looking-glass and hold it so the sun can hit it, it will blind the fish so you can catch them with your hands.

• When you go fishing, spit on the line and you will get fish by the peck.

• When you lose your hook, tie bait on the line and continue fishing.

• Wind from the south, hook in the mouth/ Wind from the east, bite the least/ Wind from the north, further off/ Wind from the west, bite the best.

• You will not catch any fish, if you see fish humping on a rainy day.

• You will not catch any more fish if you are struck by a fish's fin.

• You will not have any luck, if you fish when the sign is in the "head."

• Your will have bad luck, if you fish on Sunday.

I thought a lot of this was pretty amusing and most very old..

What are people’s thoughts and experiences when it comes to fishing mojo and any of your own rituals that seem to work.

Brad

[PlasticFantastic]

Fishing Mojo is a whole load of bs as far as im concerned and dont believe in it, having said that since my lucky offshore rod was broken ive caught bugger all out in the deep blue :whistle:

Cheers

Mark

[wheel fish]

it's lucky I'm not superstitious or i would never take my boat out fishing

Not sure if i want to see this one though BT

• You will not catch any fish, if you see fish humping on a rainy day

Not sure if i want to see that on any day much less a rainy one :whistle:

[Old Scaley]

No offence, Brad, but the post was way too long to read. :blush: On the mojo side of things, I reckon it is very fickle. I used to fish with my brother in law a lot. He is very competitive about fishing. Some days I would bag out and he would get zip and other days he would bag out and I would get the dreaded donut. I think there is a lot of luck involved, no matter what your skill level and what sort of gear you use.

[Seiran]

As the saying goes, you make your own luck..... except for when red heads are about; they're just evil devils spawn :evil:

[wheel fish]

Your right Seiran, red heads are evil devils spawn

now i just need to figure out how i avoid bad luck getting on my boat - i suppose i could dye my hair :dry:

[Surfingant]

I tend to think the whole mojo thing comes down to confidence and familiarity, I know in my case if I'm not using one of my regular combos or fishing from someone else's kayak for instance my 'mojo' tends to go right out the window. Once back in familiar surrounds I calm down a bit and get on with the job of catching fish, well most of the time anyway :whistle: :blush:

[BassTracker]

Yeah I dont agree with any of it either, except the redhead bit.. Its funny how much stock people put in some of thier superstitions..

I did put it in the humour section for that reason..

And yeah scaley its long...

There were heaps more... so many I dont know how old sailors ever left port, maybe they made them up so they could stay at the pub longer...

[rosstralia46]

I tend to think the whole mojo thing comes down to confidence and familiarity, I know in my case if I'm not using one of my regular combos or fishing from someone else's kayak for instance my 'mojo' tends to go right out the window. Once back in familiar surrounds I calm down a bit and get on with the job of catching fish, well most of the time anyway :whistle: :blush:

Or when u come out with me you can't tie a knot :whistle: but atleast it's easy to get off the donut

[tugger]

For me its down to Preperation, Patience, Persistince and the good old Pilchard never use Plastics

Never whistle at sea you whistle up the wind but you can have ACDC crankin on the stereo

[madmullet]

i have an odd joke about mojo like landing the first fish on a brand new rod and it a 70cm snapper, giving the rod good mojo...pfffft

it can come down to the slightest thing like bait presentation, it may be different structure and depths between where you are fishing and the other person. Their maybe bait holding on the area you fish whether it be yabbies, prawns, herring ect. It could be the way you or the action in how you fish. It could be the distance you are getting your bait out. There are so many variables its not funny.

Mojo to me I think is all in your ability to put the facts into play and turn them into fish.

The ability to learn and adapt to the environment and if you put all factors into play and come home with little or nothing, at least your tried.

[Often Debaited]

winds from the east , fishing is least . winds from the west , fishing is best! thats one ive heard....... but i have a dollar coin on my console , its been there since ive owned the boat and ive never really had bad luck with my boat or my fishing... yeah ive been out and not caught anything but ive always had a good time whether alone or with a mate......... thats as superstitious as i get otherwise lets go fishing !

[fifis101]

I tend to think the whole mojo thing comes down to confidence and familiarity, I know in my case if I'm not using one of my regular combos or fishing from someone else's kayak for instance my 'mojo' tends to go right out the window. Once back in familiar surrounds I calm down a bit and get on with the job of catching fish, well most of the time anyway :whistle: :blush:

I totally agree with you.

Fishing is always on and off but I've found when it's off and you're in a grumpy mood because of this, you won't be on the ball and you will miss more strikes. This is generally accelerated when you're not catching fish and the guy next to you is reeling in one after the other. You're getting worse as you get grumpier while at the same time you're probably fueling the other guys ego and causing him to be more in the zone.

You just have to chill out and enjoy fishing no matter what. Isn't this why you're on this forum.

[dantt]

Fishing mojo exists, superstitions are what you make of them.

Last weekend a mate and I fished both days for about 6 hours each day.

Saturday I got the dreaded donut, I couldn't believe it not a single fish while Jamie got quite a few of all different species.

Come Sunday he did not land a fish (barely got a bite) and I got quite a few different species. To top things off he was on to an awesome Kingy in shallow water and lost it.

[BassTracker]

wicked profile pic dantt