The Fishing Hall of Shame

An irreverent testament to the millions of anglers who ever hooked something they oughta notta, lost a really big one, or told a whopper

Fishing is the No. 1 sport for fun—and spectacular snafus. Whether it’s a pro like Ray Scott or a presidential angler like George Bush, the deck is stacked to make buffoons of the best. So cast off on an ocean of hooks, lines, and stinkers as fishing guides, charter boat captains, game wardens, and weekend fishermen spill the wacky truth about shamefully funny moments such as when:

• Ray Cockrell landed a huge bluefish and ate it—only to find out later his catch would have been a world record.
• Author Ernest Hemingway tried to shoot the shark he had just landed—but instead shot himself in the leg.
• Pro angler Gary Klein put his boat on a high-speed plane through a patch of tall weeds—and wound up in a cow pasture.
• A Colorado woman was nabbed by authorities after they discovered she had stuffed 17 illegally caught fresh trout in her underwear.
• Jim Bitter landed a bass that would have won him $50,000 in a tournament—until he accidentally dropped it over the side.

The Worst Tournament Cheats!
The Weirdest Casting Accidents!
The Funniest Fish Stories!
They’re All Immortalized In The Fishing Hall of Shame