It seems like there’s a lot of accounts (for instance Magellan’s voyage across the Pacific) where the crew find themselves in dire straits eating rats and ox hides. I’ve always wondered why they didn’t simply fish for food to supplement their stores? With the bounty of the ocean how did it get to the point of starvation. I’d imagine I’m missing some simple point here but I’ve always wondered and I was hoping someone could finally answer this little question I had. Thank you!
The ocean may be bountiful, but not always certain parts. More can always be said on the matter, of course, so if anyone would like to address further the thought of sailors fishing for food, please go ahead and make your posts! We'll never turn down new material.
For the meantime, OP, here are some previous posts for your perusal:
I recently [wrote] (https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/j9k4tb/during_the_age_of_sail_to_what_extent_did_crew/) about another source dealing with fishing in 17th century transatlantic travel, which I'll post below.
There is an excellent source on all things transatlantic travel in the 17th century British world. It was published in 1674 as a companion piece to a 1672 publication. The first, [New-England's Rarities Discovered] (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=dul1.ark:/13960/t2b88zt7z&view=1up&seq=9), covers the flora and fauna of New England as well as a detailed description of natives, medicinal practices, and a few other tidbits about the region (it's proper title is New-Englands rarities discovered : in birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, and plants of that country ; together wih the physical and chyrurgical remedies wherewith the natives constantly use to cure their distempers, wounds, and sores ; also A perfect description of an Indian squa, in all her bravery, with a poem not improperly conferr'd upon her ; lastly, a chronological table of the most remarkable passage in that country amongst the English). The second book, [An account of two voyages to New England, made during the years 1638, 1663] (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=yale.39002005528725&view=1up&seq=22) is a travellers guide to New England.
Just a few days out of harbor on his first voyage the ship "becalmed" from 7 in the morning until noon, and did so to "take a good store of Whitings, and half a score Gurnets..." They had anchored off the Isle of Wight the night before, so they were still close. This was May 5 1638. On May 8, he describes seeing a pod of whales and the "river" of water shot into the air when they surfaced. In the afternoon they harpooned a "Marsovius or Sea-Hogg" and hauled it onboard, then cooked slices he likens to bacon, but worse. May 13th they catch a shark, "a great one," and the sailors quartered it. He describes the two companion fish caught along with it in good detail. He relates that later in the day they "took a store of Bonitoes, or Spanish-Dolphins" that were "excellent food."
May 18th they spot five ships they think are pirates. They aren't.
June 16th, two days after passing an "Island of Ice", or iceberg to us, they come near Newfoundland and in 35 leagues of water they "cast out our hooks for Cod-fish" as they were in want of "fresh victuals."
After describing their arrival in Massachusetts in early July, he begins to describe items necessary for moving to New England in lists including quantities and cost. Among these lists is a list of food (victuals) for the voyage itself in which he recommends eating fish 4 days out of seven, which would certainly indicate the majority of protein would come from fish which were frequently caught by not only sailing crews but also passangers aboard the ship.
In his second voyage, he is less descriptive of the overall travel but devotes a notable porton of that section to the lowering of a boat into the water and going turtle hunting, being quite successful. He also describes catching another shark, though this one of small size.