All In Magazine

 "[T]his book also joins a short list of recent poker books, including Jim McManus’s Positively 5^th Street and Andy Bellin’s Poker Nation: A High-Stakes, Low-Life Adventure into the Heart of a Gambling Country, which actually attain literary resonance...

Poker players will find a little bit of themselves in the players described in the book as well as in Greenspan.  He talks about his own wanderlust and need for experimentation.  Whether or not he ultimately chooses to go pro, he realizes that he will always gravitate toward volatile and manic avocations.

The irony in the title and what makes this book one of the best recent entries in the poker field is that although his outer quest is to find the fish, there is an unflinching parallel journey to find his own inner fish.  He displays amazing candor in discussing his own impatience, temper and his inability to focus when the stakes aren’t enough to hurt a little bit.

Although his ability to assess his own play, identify his weaknesses, and learn to take bad beats for five percent of his bankroll in stride proves he has what it takes to be a poker pro, Greenspan shouldn’t quit his day job as a writer. Not because he couldn’t be successful, but because I want to read more of his work."

Full Review.  

Publisher's Weekly

"A surrogate for the millions of Americans who fantasize about becoming professional poker players... Readers will applaud the good sense of this able and likable writer."

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 Rafe Furst, WSOP Bracelet Winner

 "Hunting Fish is mandatory reading for anyone who has contemplated or fantisized about playing poker for a living, or knows someone who has.  Those of you "in the poker scene" will nod knowingly and smile at the all-too-familiar experiences and emotions that come with the evolution from home-game dillitant to high-rolling professional, regardless of where you are on that spectrum.  Disguised as a carefree memoir of a few months on the road playing cards, Hunting Fish is actually a substantive exploration of a personal journey we can all relate to.   More impressive than his gift for storytelling, Jay Greenspan is singular in the poker world as someone who writes both eloquently and candidly about his own thoughts, desires, motivations and misgivings.  The issues that Jay grapples with in his road trip are ones that poker players like to avoid dealing with: career, responsibility, friendship, morality and family -- you know, the trivial stuff in life.  Ultimately, Hunting Fish is about figuring out what makes you happy, learning who you really are, and embracing both. "

Brad "Otis" Willis, Writer Up For Poker Blog

Unlike a lot of other poker books out there, Jay makes no attempt to make the poker world seem romantic. Jay's age puts him in the perfect place. He's not a middle-aged guy seeking to reclaim his lost youth. He's also not a guy who is new to the scene and thinks everything is dangerous, romantic, and gonzo. Much like Jay, the poker scene is what it is.

Jay's book is a good and easy read and I recommend it to anyone who is trying to build a bankroll or considering going pro. It's a sobering read that, hopefully, will make you think.

 Full post:

http://www.upforanything.net/poker/archives/001729.html 

Falsaff, at Pokerworks.com

A thoroughly entertaining read, Hunting Fish belongs on the shelf right next to classics like Shut Up and Deal and Positively Fifth Street, a great addition to the wealth of poker literature and memoirs available now. Greenspan tells a great story, full of vibrant characters, exciting games and tales from the road.

Full review:

http://pokerworks.com/article-626.html 

April Kyle, Pokerblog.com

The resulting book is more than just a diary of Greenspan's travels and the players he encounters. We're also given a look inside the mind of a poker player as Greenspan takes bad beats, deals with being far from home, and tries to grow his bankroll. Most poker books are full of hand histories and analysis designed to help players improve their games; they offer nothing to the poker widow wanting to get inside her husband's head, or to the parents not quite sure why their daughter sees a prop bet in every box of crayons. The story in Hunting Fish will not only entertain those on the poker fringe, it will give them insight into the minds of those they now share with the game. Players will find benefit in seeing hands play out through another's eyes and as a result will likely will pick up a few more tricks to add to their arsenal.

At the end of his journey, Greenspan didn't find himself as expected, but the trip was still a success. He played some poker, made some money, put himself to the test, and came away with a truly great poker story.

Click for full post. 

Rachel Rawlings, Blogger

"Greenspan deftly blends poker history and strategy, personal life, good beat stories, and some very entertaining  table chatter."

Full post: 

http://wuxtry.typepad.com/all_in_deshou/2006/09/good_beat_stori.htm

Pokernews.com, John Caldwell 

"Hunting Fish is a worthy read, and the rare welcomed addition to the poker bookshelf. Greenspan says what most players have thought, and I would think most poker players can really relate to what goes through his head. The lessons relayed in this book have nothing to do with playing Ace-King, and everything to do with playing oneself, which are often the hardest lessons of all."

Click for full review .