Am I going to get sick out in the ocean??

Fish_N_Russ · 03-24-2003, 04:31 PM

Ok I need some imput here.......I did my first flying last year and hated it, didnt get sick but everything else. I would like to go out for bottomfishing or halibut sometime but I dont want to go out if I am going to be miserable. Anyone have any ideas how to figure this out before going? I have never been out in the ocean :smile:

thanks

8knots · 03-24-2003, 04:42 PM

Unfortunately, it is very random in terms of how it impacts different people. Many have never been seasick, others only occassionally, some chum everytime and just keep on fishing and others try it and get sick a time or two and never go again.

Pilots who never get airsick, can get seasick frequently. If you get carsick or queasy in airplanes I would say there is a good chance of getting seasick. Only one way to find out and I would see about trying a half day charter to see how it goes. Also, do a search on this site for a discussion on seasickness. There was a large variety of approaches and opinions offered. Best of luck!

KingFisher85 · 03-24-2003, 05:30 PM

Never, and I repeat never look down at the water if you are feeling......odd, look out at the horizon.
Eat a few dill pickles and salted crackers while out.
Now they have pills to take, but I don't take them. They put me out and I'll be sleeping the whole time.

I get sea sick, but I love to fly. I go flying all the time.

[ 03-24-2003, 06:31 PM: Message edited by: KingFisher85 ]

Fshklr · 03-24-2003, 05:50 PM

FNR, Don't eat a greasy breakfast, avoid cookstove fumes, alcohol burner fumes or motor exhaust. They do have non drowsey dramamine but MUST be taken 1 hr PRIOR TO SICKNESS...if you feel queesy and then take them you will definately spend the day chumming. try to plan your day on low swells ansd minimal winds, will also increase your fun. :grin:

Fish_N_Russ · 03-24-2003, 10:12 PM

Thanks for the info. I did try the dramamine for flying but I think the whole looking-out-down-at-the-ground-oh-my-god-we-are-so-far-up vertigo effect kinda numbed any effects that might have had :smile: Wouldnt have the problem out on the ocean so I might be OK

Jsail · 03-25-2003, 06:10 AM

Try Bodine. Bodine doesn't make you sleepy like dramamine does. The regulars that get sick swear by it. Keep in mind, if you get sick on the way out it's going to be awhile before you get back to land. One day last year it took us just over 2 hrs for the return trip alone.

fish assassin · 03-25-2003, 06:18 AM

If you are worried about getting sea sick, you might try going
down to Depoe Bay and going out on a whale watching charter. They
are usually only 1-2 hour trips, so if you DO get sick you won't
have to spend a whole lot of time in misery.

Try to stay calm. Remember, the Captain knows what he is doing and
will get you back to shore. A nervous stomach at the start of the trip
is a sure way to end up sea sick once you get out there!! :grin: :shocked: :grin:

-assAssin-

fishwhenican · 03-25-2003, 07:11 AM

What works for me: Bonine one tablet the night before, one more first thing in the morning. Gatorade (better than water) pretzels (better than saltines) peanut butter and honey sandwiches when all goes well. Fish Assasin has a good idea, take a short trip to try it. No problem for me, I can puke and reel at the same time.

fish assassin · 03-25-2003, 07:23 AM

fishwhenican,

Twix!! Taste as good coming up as they did going down! :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

At least, that's what I've been told!

-assAssin-

Pilar · 03-25-2003, 08:02 AM

Fish-n-russ, go on a whale watching charter and figure it out. Get lots of sleep before your trip, avoid alcohol and bring stuff to eat and drinkon the boat. Hunger and thirst are a real possibility on a long boat trip. Even after doing this for a long time I still am affected at times. The more I fish in the ocean as the summer progresses the easier it gets.

It is all in your head. Your inner ear to be exact. Your eyes and your inner ear are in disagreement about which way is up. Psychology matters too. If you are jazzed to be there on the big pond and have no worries, you are less likely to be ill. By the opposite token, fear can and will make you more susceptable. If you start grieving over your seasick, you are bound to make it worse.

I often put the green guy behind the wheel. The distraction of driving, being forced to watch the horizon and staying busy can often reverse the slide towards sea sick. You can reverse it. When I have to do things with my hands in a rough sea it does not take long before I feel the beast on my back.

A hard look at the horizon and a few deep breaths and the beast retreats to barely there.

Fish-n-russ, you can fish even if you are prone to seasick. How much do you like to fish and how good are you at adapting? Those are the questions. For some of us, the love of the open water and the awesome fishing available offshore make seasick a mere nuisance that we learn to deal with.

[ 03-25-2003, 04:57 PM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

Mr. Fisherman · 03-25-2003, 08:24 AM

Will you get sick, YES, eventually.
Will you get over it and fish anyway?
Show me don't tell me!

Have chum, will travel :grin:

id. painter · 03-25-2003, 09:53 AM

I got sick my first time out (age 8). then, not again till two years ago (age 42).
I thought i had out grown it. It was a rough day and i had a hook stuck in my pant leg. While looking in the boat and cutting the hook out, it snuck in on me.Three little chums and it was over.
I too used to get car sickness,quite easly. But, the excitement of being out on big blue seems to take over and i dont have much trouble with it.
I have a good friend who cant even net a fish ,he gets so sick, let alone land one. id. p.

Beer Waggin · 03-25-2003, 12:10 PM

When I was a kid I never got sick, then I got older and someone introduced me to Mr. Budweiser. He's not a good man to have a long discussion with the night before a trip. He will hurt you all day long.
Bonine can help, but like everything else, it has different affects on different people. Some guys won't even take Bonine because it has some nasty chemicals in it.
My best advise would be to just go and try different things until you figure out what works for you. Sooner or later you'll figure out what keeps you from hanging over the edge, although there are guys who'll loose their lunch no matter what they do.
BTW, expect no Captain to turn the boat towards shore 30 miles out just becasue you don't feel good.

Good luck, hopefully you'll get past it and be able to enjoy the Salt with the rest of us!!

Popeye · 03-25-2003, 12:30 PM

Pilar...Why didn't you tell me you wanted to drive?

Pilar · 03-25-2003, 01:12 PM

Popeye, I am quickly learning not to show any weakness around you. :grin:

Next time we go out I would love to pilot your Julie Rose III on the open water. What a boat. I'll have to watch and learn the close in maneuvering before I attempt that.

Maybe you could go back to the cockpit and have some fun with fishin' poles. I know you mostly get to be the skippy now. There is very little fishing in that. Letting someone else drive promotes you to mate, wireman or baitboy. I love it when someone drives my little boat for me and just lets me fish.

It's why I went to sea in the first place ......

sherry marie · 03-25-2003, 01:44 PM

Fishwhenican, Some other things that may be of help. I can get green and usually get sick on the first trip of the year. I can sympathize with you .. Get a good rest the night before. The worst times for me is when I have been up late getting ready and leaving the valley at 3am to get over to the dock, this is always disaster. The next is don't eat a big breakfast. third, don't look down and volunteer to help with the tangled lines.. If you feel it comming.. Drive the boat that really helps me. It always goes away, sooner or later. And it is all forgotten on the next trip when the fish are biting.

Good Luck
Ray on the Sherry Marie

seasquid · 03-25-2003, 02:18 PM

Popeye and Pilar you're killing me

Pilar could have skippered, you and I could have been chasing Hornitos shots (or is it Patron now?) with Pacificos....it's all good!

Oh, guys, tried a new brand the other day -- Corazon (Sp?) -- not bad...could be another Salty Dog party drink!

Honestly, I feel sorry for you folks who get seasick -- not a pretty sight indeed. The one rule I have in my boat is, if you are prone to it or a rookie -- anything that is happening on the floor of the boat (like a previous post), I'll take care of....

ss

fishwhenican · 03-25-2003, 03:48 PM

Come on folks.... Fish_N_Russ started this thread not me. I just added my .02, for what works for me.
F.A. When I do get sick I'll have to try the Twix :grin:

Born to Fish · 03-25-2003, 04:29 PM

For myself, I'm sold on a prescription treatment containing Scopolamine. It's simple to use - a patch that you put behind the ear. It lasts for over 3 days if you leave it on; you apply it at least 4 hours before traveling. I've never detected any side effects like drowsiness [like I did with the old version Dramamine] but that is listed as a possibility. I've been out on some really rough water off the Oregon and Alaskan coasts and have had no seasickness problems while others chummed profusely.

My motto - "don't leave the dock without it!"

corkyking · 03-25-2003, 10:39 PM

There's nothing worse than being seasick. One nice thing is that you will rarely get teased.

I sailed for years and didn't get sick then went thru the Panama Canal and when we entered the Atlantic I was sick for two days.

I so seldom go bluewater now and I so don't want to get sick that I do my old standby every time just to be certain:

1 Dramamine at noon the day before the trip, two the night before, no partying, a good nights sleep and one Dramamine in the morning. I usually don't need more than that.

The really unfortunate thing about seasickness is you may have to experiment more than once!

CAPT KUJO · 03-26-2003, 06:53 AM

Hey I can give you two cents worth here. Back in 1987 I started really spending time off shore and found I REALLY got sea sick easy. I wrote NASA and asked them what they did for Astronauts regarding motion sickness.

To my suprise I receieved a 25 page report from the space agency entailing their testing. At that time the Astronauts had the choice of the Scapalomine transdermal patch (sp?) or a combination of .5mg of dextroamphetimine (sp?)and .04mg of scopalomine in a capsule. I took this information to my physician and she wrote one for the pills, as the patches released the drug over a three day period and was not working while SCUBA diving offshore.

I've been taking this "motion sickness" pill ever since before any off shore trips. May I say although I generally don't get sick, when I do feel sick, at least now with the meds I can successfully "fight it". Couple of other things: 1. It's specially compounded, and only one place in Portland fills it. 2. You must obtain a prescription as it is a controlled substance.

I would happy to send you a copy of this report for your doctors' review if interested.

FYI....Currently NASA injects Astronauts for motion sickness prevention, Sorry but that's just not me! I'll stick to the old school NASA remedy.

CAPT KUJO

Popeye · 03-26-2003, 07:35 AM

Hey Kujo...do you know Ed Beal

outdoor.spec.ops · 03-26-2003, 10:20 AM

My advice is----well dont worry about getting sick! I went out last year with Tailchaser for Halibut and was sick as a dog the whole 13 hour trip. I ralfed all day, and I MEAN ALL DAY. The sickness wouldnt affect how I felt mentally, just caused me to dry-heave, and it would come and go.

I limited out with a ling and Hali, but unfortunately was sick when I was standing. I had a blast, and wouldnt dare telling the guys to go back on my behalf. Trust me, you can real in a 50 pounder from your knees on the bottom of the boat, and it is still a kik in the pants. So once again, if you really really want to go, then go, it wont kill ya, and you may catch some BIG fish.

Fish_N_Russ · 03-28-2003, 11:45 PM

Thanks for the info fellas
Interesting about the Scapalomine (sp?) I have heard of that before, might give it a try.

CAPT KUJO · 03-29-2003, 04:57 AM

Yes Of course I know Ed Beal. Haven't heard nor seen him for quite sometime. Is he still diving?

CAPT KUJO