Fishing from QE2

[Chris]

We stumbled across this sign on a bulkhead door on 5 Deck during our time in Australian Water in 2008. The general gist of the small print was that fishing off the side of QE2 in Australian Water is illegal and if caught, crew would have to answer to the Staff Captain. We thought it was hilarious considering the ship was moving quite fast through the ocean at the time...

Photo worthy!

[Bob C.]

It is humerous but not so uncommon.  Fishing enthusiasts bring their gear on Navy ships as well. I remember a few times as we were steaming around at 5 kts or so in the Gulf, Sailors had their gear over the side.  When not authorized the Executive Officer (Staff Captain) had to flush out a few folks from the fantail.  Not sure if I would eat anything out of that water but they were fishing none the less. 

I guess if you are a QE2 crewmember who likes to fish, the temptation is only an open hatch away!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Here is proof that it was done off QE2 too!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbett/2661086607/

[Chris]

Great shot! Now we just need one of her at-sea with the 5 Deck shell door open :-)

[cunarder1212]

Is there anyone else out there who fished from the Qe2.I used to fish from the swimming pool windows and had  some good days.I use salted rainbow trout during the world cruise for bait and have caught fish all round the world.I have caught baracudda, red snapper,dogfish, kind of small tuna and sea bream as well as lost some bigger fish due to the hieght up to the swimming pool.
 After an incident in New Zealand with the crew taking undersize fish Cunard stopped all fishing and I was banned from fishing from the ship.
   On my first world cruise on Queen Victoria 2009 I had just caught a sea bream from 3 deck when the 3rd officer tapped me on the shoulder telling me no fishing allowed.
                                                                                                            Cunarder1212

[cunardqueen]

This was in Malaga in 2004
Ok so it wasnt from QE2, but the crew were....
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and just for the heck of it
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[Chris]

Thanks for sharing those photos Myles.
QE2 just looks so good.

[Rod]

Fishing was also popular on the North Cape cruises. One trip we had a bunch of wives travelling and they were fishing from one of the shell doors...we gave them a radio in case of emergency...radio went off and I and one other went to help....they had caught 2 huge fish! UGLY!!!! Vic Coward prepared them in various ways....man oh man!

[Lynda Bradford]

What did they do with the fish caught?  Were they put back in the water?

[Rod]

Lynda, no for the most part they were eaten. Barracuda I doubt...but most of the others would be consumed. The chinese especially, laundry and dishwashers would gut and dry the fish for use later. They prefered dried protein to the fresh!

[John Drew]

I remember watching some of the deck hands in different ports fishing out of 5 deck forward shell doors using a dinner fork with the two outer prongs bent back and the fork tied onto a broom stick and a line tied to the other end of the stick, Some of them were weighted with strips of lead around the fork handle. They would throw the spear or that's what they called it into shoals of fish with some very good results, when you have time to think you can use or make anything work, any of you guys out there remember this?. JD.

[Kevin McGhee]

I think I took these photos (from 2 deck aft) in the early 70's. The fisherman pulling in the shark (whose name escapes me) was a gloryhole steward on 4 deck aft and it took him about 3 hours before he got it onboard. I don't recall the island, possibly Antigua, it was on a Caribbean cruise. I recognize another fisherman sitting on the ship's rail, Ray Audrain who was the restaurant manager in the Columbia.

[John Drew]

Hi Kevin, I remember this one and yes it was in Antigua, we used to anchor off the Island and this particular time there were many sharks swimming around the ship certainly the most I ever saw in this area ( the Tasmanian Straight being the worst) if I remember correctly some of it was taken up to the galley and cooked up for the guys, not that I managed to get any, it was a great catch and a lot of work, although catching them now is a bit of a no no as they do more good than harm. John