How to Tie the Anchor Hitch
The Anchor Hitch
The Anchor Hitch is a secure binding hitch used to attach a rope to a ring, anchor, post, or other fixed object. It is especially valued in marine and outdoor settings for its reliability under sustained load and its resistance to slipping when properly tied. Because of its strength and stability, it has long been used in anchoring, mooring, and general securing applications where a dependable connection is required.
Other Names: Anchor Bend, Fisherman's Bend, Fisherman's Hitch
Anchor Hitch Instructions
The Anchor Hitch is listed in The Ashley Book of Knots (ABOK #1841) and is recognized as a classic and highly secure hitch for attaching a rope to a fixed point. Its structure typically involves multiple turns around the object followed by a locking tuck that prevents the knot from working loose under tension. This combination of wraps and locking turns helps distribute the load evenly and improves overall holding power.
The reason the Anchor Hitch is so effective is that it tightens under tension. Some hitches ‘tighten under tension’, but they don’t tighten the way the Anchor Hitch does. See, after making our second hitch around the Anchor, the tag end is fed through the loop. Now, when the anchor pulls, the hitch pulls on the tag end. The end of the knot is being held by the start of the knot, so the tighter it gets, the tighter the hold, which is why the knot is so effective (now try and untie it…).
Key Considerations
Proper dressing of the Anchor Hitch is important to ensure the turns lie neatly against the anchor point and the final locking component is correctly seated. The wraps should be snug and evenly spaced to maximize friction and prevent slippage. As with all critical hitches, it should be inspected after tying to confirm that it is properly set before being loaded.
Advantages & Disadvantages
One of the key advantages of the Anchor Hitch is its strength and long-term security under load. It performs well in marine environments and with natural or synthetic ropes, making it a trusted choice for securing to rings, posts, and fixed hardware. Although it can become tight after heavy use, its reliability and proven performance have made it a standard knot in anchoring and mooring applications.
Because the Anchor Hitch tightens under a load, it can be very difficult to untie or work loose, especially after a 50+ pound anchor has been dragging on the hitch. Something such as a Lobster Buoy Hitch may be easier to untie, but not as strong as the Anchor Hitch. Adding a slipped function, like the Halter Hitch, could be another alternative (but I wouldn’t recommend the Halter Hitch for an anchor application).
ABOK #1841 - Fisherman's Bend
ABOK Numbers: Abok #24, Abok #1518, Abok #1840, Abok #1841, Abok #1885, Abok #1911
The Anchor Hitch, or Fisherman’s Bend, as it’s better known in Ashley’s Book of Knots, is a reliable, sturdy anchoring knot. The Anchor Hitch has many names; some entries use the name correctly, while others use different forms. If you want to do some digging, look for the Anchor Bend and Fisherman’s Bend entries in the book. Some I feature here; others, while they may be the same knot in theory, display other applications. The exact entries of the Anchor Hitch version are as follows:
Abok #24,
‘The FISHERMAN’S BEND is an ANCHOR HITCH.’
Abok #1518,
‘A FISHERMAN’S BEND made fast to a chain cable. The Yankee bank fisherman’s cable is half chain, half rope. The chain is for the stony bottom and the rope for its easier riding qualities. The end link is parceled, and the bend is seized.’
Abok #1840,
‘The FISHERMAN’S BEND consists of a round turn with a hitch through the turns and customarily a second hitch that is added around the standing part. The knot is often illustrated without the second hitch but is seldom tied in that way. Some find it handier to tie the knot with overhand turns instead of underhand turns as shown here.’
Abok #1841,
‘The FISHERMAN’s BEND, also called the ANCHOR BEND, is one of the strongest of hitches. Steel gives it as the proper bend for a kedge anchor. There is no better ANCHOR BEND but in stiff, heavy cable it is not so easily applied as the ROUND TURN AND TWO HALF HITCHES.’
Abok #1885,
‘The FISHERMAN’s BEND is strong and will not jam. These last three hitches are found on hooks in running rigging when it is not necessary for them to spill on removal, and where they are always moused.’
Abok #1911,
‘If a mooring line is to remain long under water the FISHERMAN’S BEND, parceled and seized, cannot be bettered.’
Disclaimer
The information on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, knot strength, security, and suitability can vary depending on rope type, condition, load, environmental factors, and how the knot is tied. Users are responsible for inspecting their equipment and verifying that a knot is appropriate for their intended use. Do not rely solely on the information provided here for activities involving personal safety, life support, climbing, rescue operations, heavy lifting, or other high-risk applications.
SCB Media Group assumes no responsibility or liability for any injury, loss, damage, or consequences resulting from the use or misuse of the knots and techniques described. Always seek professional instruction and follow applicable safety standards where appropriate.