Fish Fights: A Hall of Fame Quest [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Sandy Moret (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I enjoyed the book immensely. I loved the personal insights into some of fishing's legendary guides and personalities. I can thoroughly identify with the commitment to 'catch and release' . . . a fine book on fishing and on life, too."--President George H. W. Bush

"If you love fishing adventures with a fly rod, and want to understand the characters who do, this book will give you hours of pleasant reading."--Lefty Kreh

"Fish Fights really touched a chord with me. I have fished and loved the Florida Keys for over fifty years. Bob Rich brought me back to the memories of the waters, the guides, the relaxing life, but most of all, the champion gamefish."--Curt Gowdy

"In the reading of Fish Fights I was reintroduced to some of my favorite places, folks, and memories...But more importantly, in Bob Rich's Met Hall of Fame quest I was able to see the angling spark that was ignited in all of us so many years ago. Read Fish Fights for yourself and see the spark become a bonfire."--Flip Pallot

"Fish Fights is extremely well written...a truly outstanding book that is easy to read, filled with meaningful facts, and tells a fascinating story."--Mark Sosin

"Fish Fights is a fish story told well. It has all the necessary ingredients to separate it from the norm. Humor, crusty characters and most importantly the 'Quest,' are what fishermen like myself can relate to. Entertainment and helping to find the cure?...Count me in!"--Jose Wejebe

"Don't be fooled by the title...this book is about a lot more than just fish. Bob Rich has captured the essence of the characters that I've known for over 30 years."--Rick Ruoff

"The hardest type of fish writing is storytelling. Yet Bob has written a wonderful and adventurous journey through the different neighborhoods that each species required and through some of the most famous land sights. Filled with well-drawn characters and with great love and respect for the fish he is looking for and its environment."--Chico Fernandez

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description

When Bob "Bubba" Rich decided to embark upon his own quest - to qualify for the Metropolitan South Florida Fishing Tournament Hall of Fame - it's possible he didn't realize the amount of strength and valor he would need to accomplish his goals. By the time it all was over, he had indeed exhibited as much strength, valor, patience, and fortitude as any angler could muster. The task at hand proved to be difficult.

Fish with Rich as he probes the waters of south Florida and the Bahamas, searching for the ten species that will gain him entrance to the Hall of Fame. Enjoy the incredible highs he feels when finally catching a fish that qualifies; share with him the lows when things go wrong, and he just can't catch a break on some of the gamefish.

Rich chronicles his dogged pursuit of these elusive fish. Yet, this is no mere fishing tale. It also recounts the history of conservation and the development of a catch-and-release ethic by saltwater anglers. Most important, though, it is a rich adventure with an intriguing cast of characters.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 380 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585742325
• ISBN-13: 978-1585742325
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #362,710 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Fish Fights, September 20, 2001

By	Alan L. Haberman (Boston, MA. USA) - See all my reviews

Reading "Fish Fights" was a delightful adventure. It is a picaresque journey in the quest of an impossible goal and its telling in a straightforward, light style makes it easily accessible and satisfying entertainment. I found plenty for the expert on the arcane rules of the contest and the varied, specific skills required to boat (and then release) each of the 10 different, magnificent, maddening, game fish that are the object of this game and deserve, we learn, the respect with which they are treated. But the real delight for me was getting to know the protagonist -- a wonderful, bright, big hearted, gentle but very determined and targeted Captain of Industry (and that he truly is, but you'll have to do a little research to find out, since he doesn't tell us about it) that shares the time of his life with us. Not the least of my fun came from his fast, insightfull sketches of guides and companions, a wonderful selection of slightly askew personalities that reflect the diversity and twists, the surprises and flavor that flows from the open and closed waters of and around the Everglades. I wished I could have been with them, swapping tales, peeling sunbruned skin (me, not them) doling out dreams and plotting how to outsmart those cunning denizens of the not-so-deep. It is a charming, fun filled, man of a book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyable reading!, July 11, 2003

By	Steven L. Miller (Monroeville, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

Having known something of Bob Rich from my wife's meeting him at work numerous times I was compelled to read his book when it came to my attention. I was captured by the book in the first few pages. It was the old " couldn't put it down" story. It was the first book I have read cover to cover in 30 years. Upon finishing the book you realize it's every bit as much about fishing people as it is about catching fish. I certainly hope Bob Rich writes another book, as his easy going story telling style just makes you want to run down to the Keys and go fishing!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fish This!, August 13, 2001

By	Thomas A. Roe "[e-mail]" (Minnetonka, MN United States) - See all my reviews

My long-time pal gives us a slightly irreverent, but very poignant look at the important role fishing has played in shaping his life philosophy. Bob uses the Met hall of Fame quest for 10 species of fish to spin some wonderful yarns about his exploits, while at the same time giving the readers a good glimpse of his soul. This is a well organized story with many interesting anecdotes, encounters and discoveries along the way.It should appeal not only to the fishing crowd, but also to anyone who enjoys the great outdoors and man's encounters with nature. I am proud and grateful to have participated in a small way in "Bubba's" quest. Give this book a try! I promise you'll like it!