
To Catch a Fish
Essays on the Joy, Frustration, Curiosity, and Allure of Fishing
Mark Kurlansky(Author)
Storey Publishing LLC
Published on 23. April 2026
Book
Hardback
176 pages
978-1-63586-972-9 (ISBN)
Description
A charming and gorgeously illustrated collection of essays on fish and fishing by Mark Kurlansky, the acclaimed bestselling author of Cod and Salt. Covering everything from techniques and methods to fishing culture, ecology, and cooking and eating one's catch, Kurlansky guides readers through the waters and into the mind of the fish through fascinating and entertaining anecdotes, all in his signature informative and meditative style.
For as long as there have been humans, there have been humans trying to catch fish. The two species-fish and man-live in constant tension. One chases the other. One tries to get away. Some of us-author Mark Kurlansky included-are hard-wired for that chase. Guiding readers through the waters and into the mind of the fish, Kurlansky considers who fish are and why they behave the way they do, and along the way delves into the many approaches to catching a fish, their ecology, and the ins and outs of cooking and eating your catch.
Whether you're a seasoned angler or a novice, or simply want to explore the world of fish, the forty short essays in this collection and the dazzling illustrations by Bri Dostie, shed new light on these creatures and our relationship to them.
For as long as there have been humans, there have been humans trying to catch fish. The two species-fish and man-live in constant tension. One chases the other. One tries to get away. Some of us-author Mark Kurlansky included-are hard-wired for that chase. Guiding readers through the waters and into the mind of the fish, Kurlansky considers who fish are and why they behave the way they do, and along the way delves into the many approaches to catching a fish, their ecology, and the ins and outs of cooking and eating your catch.
Whether you're a seasoned angler or a novice, or simply want to explore the world of fish, the forty short essays in this collection and the dazzling illustrations by Bri Dostie, shed new light on these creatures and our relationship to them.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Workman Publishing
Product notice
Trade binding
Illustrations
Full-colour; illustrations throughout
Dimensions
Height: 205 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
461 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-63586-972-9 (9781635869729)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
03/2026
Storey Publishing, LLC
€13.99
Available for download
Person
Mark Kurlansky is a former commercial fisherman, journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Cod, Salt, The Big Oyster, and dozens of other books of fiction and non-fiction. He's won numerous awards, including the James A. Beard Award, ALA Notable Book Award, and New York Public Library Best Books of the Year Award, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Audubon Magazine, Food & Wine, The Los Angeles Times, and more. He lives with his wife and daughter in New York City and Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Content
Introduction: The Intrigue
Part One: Catching Fish
My First Fish
The Secret to Catching Fish
Offering Nothing: Fishing Without Bait
Fishing for Money
Fishing from a Boat
How a Fish Fights
What a Smart Fish Knows
Fish Fighting Styles
Face to Face
The Original American Fishers
Surf Casting
Fishing Buddies
Going Out for a Spin
Wise and Humble
The Casting Ballet
Fair Play
Beautiful Bugs
The Mystery of Salmon
Fishing by the Seat of Your Pants
The Bigger the Fish
The Perfect Rod
Women Who Fish
Part Two: What Do I Do with It Now?
Keepers
Is It Cruel to Catch a Fish?
Bleeding a Fish
The Scale of the Task
Keeping a Head in the Game
Showing Some Guts
What Most People Want to Eat
How to Cook a Fish
Catching a Salt Fish
Two Celebrity Fish Dishes
The Seam Bream (and My Favorite Recipe)
Part Three: Fishing by the Book
Believing in Poets
It May Be Wisdom
The Quiet Fish
A Favorite Contemporary: Norman Maclean
That Delicious Pull
By the Banks of the Trailer Park
Big Two-Faced River
Appendix: A Guide for Fish
Ten Tips to Help Avoid Being Caught
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Part One: Catching Fish
My First Fish
The Secret to Catching Fish
Offering Nothing: Fishing Without Bait
Fishing for Money
Fishing from a Boat
How a Fish Fights
What a Smart Fish Knows
Fish Fighting Styles
Face to Face
The Original American Fishers
Surf Casting
Fishing Buddies
Going Out for a Spin
Wise and Humble
The Casting Ballet
Fair Play
Beautiful Bugs
The Mystery of Salmon
Fishing by the Seat of Your Pants
The Bigger the Fish
The Perfect Rod
Women Who Fish
Part Two: What Do I Do with It Now?
Keepers
Is It Cruel to Catch a Fish?
Bleeding a Fish
The Scale of the Task
Keeping a Head in the Game
Showing Some Guts
What Most People Want to Eat
How to Cook a Fish
Catching a Salt Fish
Two Celebrity Fish Dishes
The Seam Bream (and My Favorite Recipe)
Part Three: Fishing by the Book
Believing in Poets
It May Be Wisdom
The Quiet Fish
A Favorite Contemporary: Norman Maclean
That Delicious Pull
By the Banks of the Trailer Park
Big Two-Faced River
Appendix: A Guide for Fish
Ten Tips to Help Avoid Being Caught
Bibliography
Acknowledgments