Big Fish: Part 1: In Which He Goes Fishing Summary & Analysis

There’s an epic flood, yet miraculously, most of Ashland is saved. The rest is under Big Lake, along with the ghosts of those who died and—curiously—giant, man-sized catfish that can rip off your leg. William reflects that “only a fool or hero” would try to catch one, but he supposes Edward’s a “bit of both,” as that’s exactly what Edward tries to do, using mice for bait. The water starts bubbling around Edward, but he keeps fishing. Suddenly, Edward realizes he’s being pulled forward but he can’t let go of the pole. A giant dolphin-like catfish jumps out of the water, beautiful and monstrous in the sun, and it drags Edward deep into the underwater graveyard below.

Edward sees the flooded homes, farms, and people who lived there going about their business as usual, feeding their horses and speaking to their neighbors. They move in slow motion, and little air bubbles escape as they talk. As the catfish pulls Edward by, one of them smiles. Suddenly, Edward is thrown ashore. He doesn’t tell anybody about this—who would believe him? He just says he fell asleep by the river and his fishing pole drifted away.