The intact stability of three Portuguese and four Peruvian fishing vessels operating in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans under the action of fishing gear pull, beam waves and wind are studied. The reduction of dynamic transverse stability of these fishing vessels have been studied, as a result of roll back angle, wind moment (based on 2008 IS Code, part B) and fishing gear pull moments and their combination, including their combined effects. The calculation results presented in this paper show that: (a) fishing gear heeling moments, in many occasions, are more critical than the heeling moments produced by rough weather scenarios and, effectively, a combination of them may lead to total stability failure even when a normal fishing trip is considered; (b) some fishing vessels have over dimensioned fishing gears and machinery onboard, that have negative influence onto fishing vessels transverse stability. Finally, comments are made about the limitations of 2008 IS Code, part B with respect to prevention of stability failure due to combined effect of fishing gear pull, beam waves and wind. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.