The fool who puts an X on the bottom of the boat to mark where the fishing was good is said to have been invented by every culture that fishes. (Sometimes his boss says "How do you know we'll have the same boat next time?")

In my favorite Calvin & Hobbes cartoon, Calvin is sitting a rock fishing, and a fish climbs out of the water & bites him on the ass. Then Hobbes comes by & asks "Are they biting?" and Calvin tells him to shut up.