The Yin and Yang of Bananas

We’ve all heard the myths about this good-for-you yellow fruit. Bananas are strictly taboo on some boats and allowed, and even encouraged, on others.

Capt. Bouncer Smith, of Miami Beach, Florida, is famous for his well-earned fear of bananas aboard Bouncer’s Dusky. In fact, Smith’s disdain extends to banana bread, banana chips and even clothing named after or depicting anything remotely banana-related.

“I can’t tell you how many pairs of Fruit of the Loom underwear we have pulled out, wedgie-ing people and cutting off the labels,” says Smith, who says he had a hand in getting the company to change that iconic brand. He was fishing with a regular customer who brought his friend Jack along for the day. Anchored in 90 feet with two baits on top and two on the bottom, they did not get a bite all morning. Meanwhile, Smith’s buddy, Capt. Dennis Forgione, dropped anchor 25 yards away and immediately caught a sailfish.

“I moved 25 yards west of Dennis. He continued to catch fish; we continued to catch nothing. I said, ‘Darn it, someone on this boat is wearing Fruit of the Loom underwear — the one with the little bananas on the label.’ Jack says, ‘What would you say if one of your customers was vice president in charge of sales for Fruit of the Loom?’ And less than a year later, the bananas were gone.”

Another time, Smith was waiting at Miami Beach Marina for husband and wife duo Don and Sandy, from Aventura, Florida, and their young nephew. They’d booked him to fish the Miami Billfish Tournament but showed up just minutes before the 8 a.m. Bimini start. Smith set up on a rip just off Government Cut, and Sandy released the first sailfish of the tournament, then caught another just a few minutes later. They released six sailfish that day and ended up going 12 for 12 to win the three-day tournament.

“At the end of the first day, I said, ‘I’ve got to ask: What happened to you this morning?’ Don said they were at the dock at 6:30, but when he went to the restroom, he saw he was wearing Fruit of the Loom underwear, so he drove home and changed, then raced back in Miami Beach rush-hour traffic,” Smith says. “So how could I not be a believer at that point?”

“I can’t tell you how many pairs of Fruit of the Loom underwear we have pulled out, wedgie-ing people and cutting off the labels.”