Fish Story solution
by Kegler
Per the unclued phrase, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY,
fourteen answers have the letters ONE removed before entry into the diagram.
Across
| 12 | HARP + O + {ONE}R |
| 13 | PLEONASM (SOME PLAN anag) |
| 16 | ROWBOAT ("BEAU WROTE" spoonerism) |
| 18 | S + PEAR |
| 20 | C + HURL |
| 21 | M(O)A |
| 22 | PAR(D{ONE})D |
| 24 | COMM(ISSI){ONE}RS |
| 27 | B(E)AN |
| 28 | SEAS + {O + NE}D (DEN rev) |
| 30 | hAIR |
| 31 | OHMS ("OMS" hom) |
| 33 | PA + N |
| 34 | S.A. + BRA |
| 36 | {ONE}IDA (hidden) |
| 37 | STEP + S (rev) |
| 40 | SPADES (2 defs) |
| 41 | NECTAR (CRETAN anag) |
| 42 | N{ONE} + N + FOR + CEMENT |
|
Down
| 1 | O + AT + H |
| 2 | S(P)O{ONE}R |
| 3 | H(OWL)I + N,G |
| 4 | UPON (hidden) |
| 5 | DEaTH + R{ONE}S (SENOR rev) |
| 6 | H(ORM{ON)E}S |
| 7 | ANGORA (ON A RAG anag) |
| 8 | VACATI{ONE}RS (NAIVE ACTORS anag) |
| 9 | E + SS |
| 10 | EVER + T |
| 11 | NOR (last letters) |
| 12 | HI-C + CUP |
| 14 | LARIAT (A TRIAL anag) |
| 15 | R(AD)OME |
| 17 | BO(SSI)ER (SIS anag) |
| 19 | PAN + OR + AMA |
| 22 | PAR(APE)T |
| 23 | DISH({ONE}ST)Y (STENO anag) |
| 25 | MEN + ACE |
| 26 | MAPS (rev) |
| 27 | B + ADE |
| 29 | E + X + P + {ON + E}NT (TEN anag) |
| 32 | H({O,N + E}YD)EW (DYE rev) |
| 34 | SO + FA |
| 35 | BERG (hidden) |
| 36 | INT{ONE} (rev hidden) |
| 38 | TAN (ANT anag) |
| 39 | ROT (rev) |
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