Why is it called fish?

[Ralle]

I've been wondering why weak players are referred to as fish. Is it because sucker is a type of fish or is that just a coincident?

[Nottom]

I always thought it was because they were food for the "sharks"

[Fitz]

I think "fish" is often a term for weaklings in several arenas. When I was wrestling in high school, we called the bad wrestlers "fish" this was mostly because they flopped around on their backs like fish out of water. I have seen some of this same behavior from bad players at the poker table too.. lol

Good luck,

[Rockfish]

Two possibilites. I have evidence for neither but they both lead to the same place.

1) The colloquialism "shooting fish in a barrel" refers to anything that is very easy.

2) A "fish out of water" is someone who is out of his element.

The first possibility seems a more likely origin of the term "fish". Party poker is then the barrel.

My hat is old,
my teeth are gold,
I have a bird,
I like to hold.
I have a bird I like to hold,
my hat is old,
my teeth are gold,
and now my story is all told.

From "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" By Dr. Suess

[Ralle]

Is it then just a coincidence that a "sucker" is a type of fish, and that in poker "sucker" and "fish" are just about synonymous?

[lefty rosen]

All of these ideas are plausible, it's like why are bad players called birds, donaters, calling stations, chasers, maniacs and crackheads? The genus of a losing player all starts from a time period and place where the term was popular, you can call me weak, but just don't call me late for dinner.....

[whiskeytown]

I dunno....

but it's probably for the same reason new inmates are called "Fresh Fish" -

watch your cornhole, dude...

RB

[Tommy Angelo]

Players who call other people fish are not very good spellers so they have to keep their ridiculing simple. Maybe if they had paid better attention in schools.

[Deelah]

I think it´s because they like the river.. You just use to get rivered by bad players, hitting their gutshot draw. Fish.

[inkstain]

Alligators and crocodiles like the river, too. Odd.