Fishing the Wild Waters: An Angler's Search for Peace and Adventure in the Wilderness

by Conor Sullivan

Overview

From the azure waters of Hawaii to the pristine streams in Alaska to the craggy New England coast, a devoted angler reveals the agony and ecstasy of fishing.

Fishing the Wild Waters invites us to traverse America and visit three distant and distinct dream destinations for any serious angler—and anyone who aspires to someday become one. Sullivan's marvelous debut illuminates the often profound nature of fishing as a vehicle that connects those who practice it with reverence to a world beyond the one humans created.

As we travel along with Sullivan, he reveals what goes into the pursuit of select fish in the region with humor and personal stories as well as deep knowledge. Hawaii, Alaska and New England are some of the last frontiers of fishing in America. They are full of danger, big fish, and extraordinary adventure. To fish these places is to reach back and stand alongside the First Nations of fishermen—our ancestors who lived there for thousands of years before us—as well as those early Americans who built this country using species like cod as their currency.

These cultural and fishing outposts will tell us something if we can just be quiet and listen. To hear that message requires an intrinsic respect for these ancient fishing grounds and our connection to them. This mindset is in lock-step with a growing movement of anglers who fish these wildest of waters as a way to turn down the noise of modern living and tune into their fundamental, hands-on relationship with the sea, finding not only the solace, but the sustenance the fish provides to those who take the time to learn its lessons. Plus, filling a freezer with the world’s healthiest protein just feels right.

By turns funny, thrilling, and lyric, Fishing the Wild Waters celebrates these special places where each fisherman can pull back the curtain, connect to the sea, and gaze into their own soul – the soul of a fisherman.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781643138312
Publisher:	Pegasus Books
Publication date:	12/07/2021
Pages:	280
Sales rank:	753,765
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

A lifelong outdoorsman, writer, artist, and lure craftsman, Conor Sullivan holds a Bachelors in Marine Science from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a Masters in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island, as well as a 200-ton Master Mariners license. As a Coast Guard Officer, he served in numerous leadership positions, including as the Commanding Officer of the North Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center in Kodiak, Alaska, and as the Captain of a Coast Guard Cutter in the North Atlantic, specializing in fisheries conservation, search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement. He and his wife Renee have three wonderful kids who enjoy the wild side of the world as well. When not on the water, you can catch him on social media @sullivanlures.

Table of Contents

Foreword: How This All Began vii

Chapter 1 New England: Hallowed Waters 1

Chapter 2 Alaska: The Great Land and Even Better Fishing Spot 35

Chapter 3 Hawaii: The Proving Grounds 87

Chapter 4 Eating off the Grid without Going off the Deep End 133

How to Fish Like A Local

Appendix 1 Becoming a Fisherman 147

Appendix 2 Fly-Fishing 155

Appendix 3 New England 162

Appendix 4 Alaska 175

Appendix 5 Hawaii 202

Appendix 6 How to Care for Your Catch 218

Works Cited 225

Editorial Reviews

I was hooked from the first page, enjoying the blend of the exciting stories mixed with practical fishing advice. Conor Sullivan is ‘lucky’ fisherman because he put the time in: observing, experimenting, and learning. Join him on his journey self-discovery while angling for new species.”

Michael Tougias

When reading Conor Sullivan’s Fishing the Wild Waters, you meet a man who loves the sea and its lore as much as its fish and theirs. Each fish caught is hard-earned through skill, luck, and shameless fun. Sullivan also reminds us that the big waters off Alaska, Hawaii and New England know nothing of obligations. That value belongs uniquely to anglers like Sullivan, who honor alarm clocks long before dawn and rich fillets long before home.

Patrick E. Durink

"In Fishing the Wild Waters [Sullivan] takes us on his mega-adventures. From the seas surrounding Hawaii for marlin to wild streams in Alaska for salmon and to the New England coast for cod, we get all the intimate detail in 'what, when, where and how' dialogue complete with pictures of some great fish. He also includes a section on 'how to' fish in the various exotic locations and how to care for your catch and get it safely home afterwards."

The Florida Times Union

"A former Coast Guard officer and lifelong outdoorsman takes readers to three of the remaining wild fishing destinations in the United States, in Hawaii, Alaska and New England. Yes, he’s concerned with environmental matters and sustainable consumption, but he’s also after the kind of serenity found when humans connect with the natural world."

The Washington Post