The Beat Goes On, and another First

[Roccus7]

Been fishing with my neighbor the past couple of days and each trip has been a nice pick of 1/2 dozen stripers between 24 - 27 each day, along with 1/2 dozen of smaller fish.

Today I had a first, I caught myself!! Had a 18" fish that violently thrashed while unhooking it, embedding one of the hook past the barb in my thumb!

I had to make a decision, quit fishing and head to the ER or just yank the hook out. I decided it was time to Man Up and find out what a striper experiences when it's released.

Wasn't too bad, and I slathered on some Neosporin and stuck a Bugs Bunny Bandaid on it. I wasn't too concerned in that I got my most recent Tetanus Booster in July of 2020, a vaccine that's good for 10 years. I guess I'll be able to get out again tomorrow...

 

[george]

That's never fun.

 

[Roccus7]

That's never fun.

Actually it was far less painful than I've always feared. I guess worrying about it since I was 5 years old blew it way out of proportion...

 

[longcast]

Actually it was far less painful than I've always feared. I guess worrying about it since I was 5 years old blew it way out of proportion...

Glad it worked out. I only had a hook too deep for "beach doctor" removal once, and that was to the chin. The pain was not too bad.

 

[captmike28]

Been fishing with my neighbor the past couple of days and each trip has been a nice pick of 1/2 dozen stripers between 24 - 27 each day, along with 1/2 dozen of smaller fish.

Today I had a first, I caught myself!! Had a 18" fish that violently thrashed while unhooking it, embedding one of the hook past the barb in my thumb!

I had to make a decision, quit fishing and head to the ER or just yank the hook out. I decided it was time to Man Up and find out what a striper experiences when it's released.

Wasn't too bad, and I slathered on some Neosporin and stuck a Bugs Bunny Bandaid on it. I wasn't too concerned in that I got my most recent Tetanus Booster in July of 2020, a vaccine that's good for 10 years. I guess I'll be able to get out again tomorrow...

Glad to hear it was not an overly painful experience, Roccus.

On a somewhat related note, I had a charter customer bury one in his hand last fall on a Blackfish trip. When I told him I was going to have to cut the hook off at the shank and push it through to remove it, his reaction was the same as yours. He simply yanked the darn thing out and went back to fishing! I guess the thought of some crusty old Capt. coming at you with a pair of pliers is scarier than a few seconds of serious pain!!!

 

[NoFlukenName]

Glad to hear it wasnt more serious Capt. Mike. The one good think about where we boat, should it have required medical attention, you can pull the boat right up to ER a few hundred yards from your slip and be in an out relatively quick.

 

[captmike28]

Yes, Capt. John. Fortunately we both have that option.
One day I will tell the story of a mishap I had on Cartwright where I was not reasonably close to any serious medical attention. Says a lot for having a well stocked First Aid kit aboard and, at least, some basic knowledge.