To Catch a Fish: Essays on the Joy, Frustration, Curiosity, and Allure of Fishing by Kurlansky, Mark

From the award-winning, New York Times best-selling author of Cod and Salt, To Catch a Fish is an entertaining and beautifully written illustrated collection of essays that explore a lifetime fascination with fishing.

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.

Author: Mark Kurlansky
Publisher: Storey Publishing
Published: 03/31/2026
Pages: 176
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.02lbs
Size: 8.00h x 6.00w x 0.75d
ISBN: 9781635869729

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 03/01/2026
Library Journal 01/01/2026 pg. 71

About the Author
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.