What do you think?
Rate this book
Fishing the Wild Waters: An Angler's Search for Peace and Adventure in the Wilderness
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.
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.
280 pages, Hardcover
Published December 7, 2021
6 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 15, 2025
Honestly, I chose this book for the beautiful cover, and I'm so glad I did. I do not fish, but I am an avid outdoorswoman. The images Sullivan painted in my mind were absolutely intoxicating and made me want to go spend my life savings on tackle and a trip to Alaska. HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who has an appreciation for the outdoors. Scratch that, anyone who has stepped foot outdoors. Great work from Sullivan and I'm crossing my fingers there's more to come!
February 1, 2022
This is a quintessential do not judge a book by its cover or therefore, its title. I had very high hopes for this as a self-proclaimed horrible fisherman and someone who enjoys their time in the wilderness but what I spent was close to 150 pages of nothing but fishing stories, which I did enjoy but there wasn't much tie into peace and adventure.
While I did enjoy the fishing aspect of this book I was looking for a closer tie into the Peace and Adventure portion of the title and instead after the 150 pages of fishing stories we were given approximately 10-15 pages of the Peace and Adventure.
Now, I will admit, I am 100% jealous of the life the author has led and how he's lived off the land so well but as I approach the 40th trip around the sun I know those opportunities are dwindling for me but was hoping for more inspiration on how to improve my time in nature.
My main point; read this book if you love hearing the stories of others fishing glory. Do not read this book if you're looking for deeper meaning in how you can re-energize your adventure with the wilderness.
While I did enjoy the fishing aspect of this book I was looking for a closer tie into the Peace and Adventure portion of the title and instead after the 150 pages of fishing stories we were given approximately 10-15 pages of the Peace and Adventure.
Now, I will admit, I am 100% jealous of the life the author has led and how he's lived off the land so well but as I approach the 40th trip around the sun I know those opportunities are dwindling for me but was hoping for more inspiration on how to improve my time in nature.
My main point; read this book if you love hearing the stories of others fishing glory. Do not read this book if you're looking for deeper meaning in how you can re-energize your adventure with the wilderness.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews