James Brown funk and banana junk: How SC Lowcountry fishermen get their mojo working

Of all the outdoor pursuits, I guarantee fishermen are by far the most superstitious lot of them all.

So what brought this subject to mind? I’ll have to credit a charter fisherman friend of mine, who will remain anonymous for obvious reasons, because he is convinced that he has “lost his mojo” when it comes to catching fish.

I know it sounds silly but I have been in his shoes before, and believe me when I say it really gets in your head that you are just plain bad luck.

For me, it’s somewhat tolerable, but not for a charter fisherman who spends every day out there and relies on fishing, and more importantly catching fish, for his livelihood. Believe me when I say this glitch can really take you down a notch or two.

The worst part of losing your mojo is that you begin to question every single thing you do out on the waters around Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Beaufort.

Am I not holding my mouth right?

Did someone hide a banana on my boat?

These are just a couple of examples of things a lot of fishermen hold near and dear to their heart, and believe me when I say they take them seriously ... very seriously.

If you have never heard that bananas are the kiss of death aboard a fishing boat then I dare you to hop on any charter boat around these parts and let the captain catch a glimpse of the banana you brought for a snack. All I can tell you is you had better eat it fast because even though you are a paying customer, every captain I know will reach right into your lunch sack, pull out the banana and in the blink of an eye, throw it overboard.

I am not quite as adamant as most, but I too won’t hesitate to pitch someone’s banana overboard, even if I have just met the person for the very first time.

The last time I did it was about a month ago when I was invited to go with a gent who had just bought a new boat and wanted some help getting to know the local waters. To say he was shocked that I reached in his ditty bag, pulled out his banana and instantly threw it overboard is an understatement.

He had never heard that bananas were bad luck, so the first thing that went through his head was I was some sort of weirdo and he was genuinely scared that I had some mental disorder. Now where have I heard that before? Oh yes, it was at the grocery store yesterday.

Actually, the banana superstition goes back to the 1700s when bananas became popular here in the United States.

Sailboats were the only way to get bananas to the U.S. from the Caribbean and the captains would hoist all their sails so they could get as much speed as possible to get the fruit to their destination before they spoiled. For the fishermen who usually acted as crew on these boats, that extra speed made it impossible for them to troll for fish as they made their voyage, and thus the banana legend began.

To further illustrate just how far some captains go, I know a couple of them who won’t let clients onboard with Banana Boat suntan lotion nor shirts or other clothing bearing the Banana Republic tag. That seems a bit excessive to me but to each his own.

Other than bananas, do I have any other mojo enhancers? Oh yes!

I guess first and foremost is my “lucky” fishing hat. I have had many a lucky fishing cap over the years and the only reason it isn’t the same one is because they literally rot and fall apart.

I’m not one of those folks who will say, “Don’t worry about it, keep going” if my hat blows off while I am running offshore. No sir, you would think I had dropped a Rolex watch overboard when that happens. I insist on going back and getting “the hat” and I truly believe that success or failure during that day’s fishing outing is based on whether I get the hat before it sinks.

When one of my beloved hats finally rots away, I may go through a dozen new hats until I find “the one.”

Some of my other quirky beliefs include my patented “fish dance” and music — but not just any music. If I had to pick just one performer who seems to draw fish, it would have to be the godfather of soul himself, Mr. James Brown!

Time and time again, James has made it happen when all else failed. In particular, his song “Get Up Offa That Thing” is one fish-catching, reel-screaming, and make you want to slap yo mamma song!

If you’re planning on going fishing, leave the bananas at home, put on your fishing cap and bring out the funk with some James Brown and you are guaranteed to bring home the bacon.

Get up offa that thing and dance til you feel better ...

Get up offa that thing and try to release that pressure …

This story was originally published February 21, 2020 at 5:30 AM.