Are you arranging a funeral for someone who loved to fish? Have you thought about what you could read for their funeral speech or eulogy?
In this article, you’ll find a selection of fishing poems for funerals. Why not choose one and read it at the funeral? It might spark happy memories for people as they think back on the person’s favourite pastime.
We've also included a few fishing memorial quotes, which you could include in a speech or write in a condolence card.
Funeral poems about fishing
‘Gone fishing’ poems for funerals
Gone Fishin’ by Delmar Pepper
This lighthearted and comforting piece is probably one of the most popular funeral fishing poems. ‘If others wonder why I’m missin’, just tell ’em I’ve gone fishin’’, writes Pepper.
Gone Fishing by David Ritter
Like Delmar Pepper’s poem, Ritter’s ‘Gone Fishing’ portrays death as another adventure – a happy fishing trip where ‘the view is grand and the fishing’s great’.
Famous poems about fishing and death
The Fish by Elizabeth Bishop
‘The Fish’ might make a good fishing eulogy poem for someone who fought through many of life’s ups and downs. The main character catches an old, tough-looking fish but lets it go when they see five fish hooks in its mouth. The fish had been caught before – but had lived to tell the tale.
The Fish by Mary Oliver
On the surface, Mary Oliver’s ‘The Fish’ seems like a simple story about catching and eating a fish. But really it’s a poem about the cycle of life and death – and the grand mystery of nature.
The Nightfishing by W.S. Graham
This complex poem touches on many ideas, including death, adventure and the importance of living in the moment. It’s very long, so you may want to choose a short extract if you plan to read it aloud.
A funeral poem about fishing in heaven
Heaven’s Fishing Hole by Jill Eisnaugle
Are you looking for a Christian fishing poem for a funeral? Try this simple and comforting piece by Jill Eisnaugle. It’s a tribute to a keen fisher who spends eternity relaxing at ‘Heaven’s Fishing Hole’.
Read ‘Heaven’s Fishing Hole’ here.
Fishing poems for Dad's funeral
A Boy and His Dad by Edgar Guest
Do you have fond memories of fishing with your dad? Have a look at this famous poem on fishing, childhood and father-and-son bonding.
Fishing by A.E. Stallings
‘Fishing’ describes a father-and-daughter fishing trip – and much more besides. Despite being quite short, the poem touches on many thought-provoking subjects, including ageing, independence and ‘the invisible line’ that connects life and death.
Short funeral poems about fishing
Hook, Line and Sinker by Michael Ashby
This fishing funeral poem is written from the perspective of someone who has died. They reflect on how much they enjoyed life and promise to send ‘spinning lines’ from Heaven to help the people they’ve left behind.
Read ‘Hook, Line and Sinker’ here.
I’d Rather Be Fishing by Edwina Reizer
‘I’d Rather Be Fishing’ doesn’t mention death or loss. Instead, it pays tribute to the simple joys of catching fish and spending time in nature. If you want an uplifting funeral poem about fishing, take a look.
Read ‘I’d Rather Be Fishing’ here.
A fishing funeral prayer
The Fisherman’s Prayer (anonymous)
In this lighthearted and humorous take on the Lord’s Prayer, ‘Heaven’ becomes ‘riverbanks’ and ‘the power and the glory’ becomes ‘the pike and the tench’.
Read ‘The Fisherman’s Prayer’ here.
More fishing memorial poems
Ode to the Fish by Ellen Bass
Ellen Bass has written many ‘odes’, meaning poems that pay tribute to a particular subject. In this one, she writes about the allure of the ocean and the countless creatures that inhabit it. It seems to say that nature can be overwhelming and a little scary – but it should also be respected.
Heaven by Rupert Brooke
‘Heaven’ is a humorous poem about fishing and death – but not in the way you might expect. It actually looks at the idea of Heaven from a fish’s point of view. In this undersea paradise, there’ll be ‘wetter water’, ‘slimier slime’ and – above all – ‘no more land’.
Fat caterpillars drift around,
And Paradisal grubs are found;
Unfading moths, immortal flies,
And the worm that never dies.
And in that Heaven of all their wish,
There shall be no more land, say fish.
This is an extract. You can read the full poem here.
Funeral quotes about fishing
If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles - Doug Larson
Here’s a funny quote with a deeper message: it’s important to make time for the things we love to do.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after - Michael Baughman
This famous quip comes from writer and fisherman Michael Baughman – though it’s often attributed to the naturalist Henry David Thoreau. It would make a good fishing memorial quote because it gets to the heart of what the hobby is all about: patience and self-discovery.
Fishing is not an escape from life but often a deeper immersion in it - Harry Middleton
If your loved one loved to fish, you might have had moments where you felt they were spending too much time on their hobby. But, as this quote suggests, the truth might be that they were trying to make the most of every moment.
Some go to church and think about fishing, others go fishing and think about God - Tony Blake
Not everyone needs a place of worship to find spiritual fulfilment. For some, it can come during those long, lazy days spent fishing on a riverbank.
There are always new places to go fishing. For any fisherman, there’s always a new place, always a new horizon - Jack Nicklaus
If you’re religious, you might find comfort in the thought of your loved one fishing in heaven. This quote hints at the same idea – where death is just another new fishing adventure.
