Getting hurt ,, fishing????

id. painter · 05-13-2003, 09:25 AM

I understand the effort it takes to stand up in a boat at sea.Now that im running(figure of speech, cause i cant run anymore)on legs that are less than perfect , i fall down much more than i used too.
Last summer while fishing the C.R. and out in the ocean i fell down in my boat at least 10 times. I didnt hurt myself bumps and thumps but that is all.
Ive been reading about everyones Halibut trips and noticed that three people were actually hurt. One was coldcocked and needed a head cut stiched, one person broke an anckle, and someone compressed a couple disks... Ouch! Is this a normal opener? This sounds like what you are doing is slightly more risky than what i think of when i think of fishing from a boat. Whats up this year??? Is everyone out of sea shape and just getting back to it.? Whats up??? id. p.

Pilar · 05-13-2003, 09:32 AM

ID P, I would say that it not unusual for sinkings and injuries to occur. The May Halibut derby is a sore point for me. I am workng on a way to make it more small boat friendly.

The weather is much better later in the summer and the ocean calmer and more suitable for small boats.

As it is now the days are set in advance and executed without regard for weather. You either get out or not. The pressure to fish on 'the' day is tremendous. That contributes to the injuries and sinkings. People are getting derby fever and doing ocean trips they would normally pass over because it is a derby fishery.

Pick your days with care and the safety of your boat and crew in mind. The Ocean is in charge here on the left coast.

Miss B Haven · 05-13-2003, 09:50 AM

id- you got a autoinflating PFD with a harness on it? You need one. If you fell down IN the boat 10 times, won't be long before you fall OUT of the boat. I jest not! Get one and use a safety rope or at least have one ready to throw.

Don't go out unless your partner knows how to a) run the boat (so they can get to you quickly) and b) knows how to get you back on board and this is NOT easy. If you don't have a swim step you should have a deployable ladder so you can get back on board. Two people (one in the boat and one in the water) may not be able to do the job without a ladder.

WildHawg · 05-13-2003, 09:51 AM

I was on the boat with the broken ankle. We were making very good time, the ocean was not overly rough, when one rogue swell created a heck of a lip which then crashed us into a serious well lifting up and tossing Wayne, who was standing up at the time. When he landed, he twisted his ankle and broke it.
Accidents happen on the Big Blue, usually when you least expect them.
As for the other incidents, I can easily see how someone could whack themselves unconcious, and back injuries are one of those really weird things that pop out of nowhere...literally. I would suspect there may have been a history of back problems with the guy, but I have no personal knowledge.
This isn't the Snake, or Lake Pend Oreille (sp?)
The ocean is indeed a dangerous place. You are taking a risk anytime you venture out. VHF has a limited range (15-30 mile), and there isn't always help nearby. Caution is the watchword, a lesson we all need reminding of from time to time. Let this be our reminder.
Pilar's point about the "Derby" nature of this venture is well taken. Why not just assign a tonnage, and turn folks loose for as long as it takes--maybe weekends only--since there is always a fish checker and a Stater at every boat ramp anyway on the weekend. Open it in June if you're looking for a little better seas! It's rediculous, isn't it? We only get a TINY little slice of the Halibut pie, and have to risk our necks to do it.
Anyway, having fallen 10 times last year in your boat--I'd think you, of all of us, would already have the answer to your question

.

id. painter · 05-13-2003, 09:58 AM

Thanks pilar. Ilove the ocean but i dont enjoy feeling on edge the entire day. I have been thinking about the sea conditions at this time of year and i understand that things are less stable.
O.K. . People are pushing it a little right now. id. p.

South Paw · 05-13-2003, 09:59 AM

ID Like MBH says a PFD and a great idea for the less mobile fisherman. Also getting procedures in place and practiced for a man overboard situation is really a great idea for anybody who ventures forth in the ocean, or any large body of water for that matter weather you are sea savy or not. Trying to get back in a boat in a rolling body of water is a real drag.

Mello-Yello · 05-13-2003, 10:00 AM

After seeing some of the posts on injuries in the past week (and these are only the one's we hear about!), perhaps we should talk a little about safety. A 2-3 hour ride to one's fishing hole isn't what most people are used to. Grown-ups are just like kids "are we there yet?". We get impatient, so we decide to move around to break up the monotony, and in many cases, to get blood back into our legs. Moving around on a boat moving over choppy seas is an art. I've done it enough that I don't try to 'catch myself' if I feel I'm losing control. I just drop to the floor. Unfortunately, some people choose to fight it. I have a good friend who fished w/me last week. He's about 290 lbs, and he does what I refer to as the "circus-bear dance". He takes a cuzillion little steps to keep his feet under him and it's hilarious to watch. I'd like to get him a little pink tu-tu, but I don't want to start any un-wanted rumors. Needless to say, a 290lb. man flying across the length of your boat isn't a good thing.

When seas get rough, I tend to tell people to stay put in their seats. If you have to move to another location in the boat, I highly recommend doing so on "all fours". In the case of my friend, I'm not only concerned for his safety, but for everyone else on the boat, and my electronics, seats, dashboard, hull...

Then add hali-slime to the floor...OMG, what a mess.

id. painter · 05-13-2003, 10:14 AM

Miss B and W.H. thanks and yes, these are all things ive given very serious thought. I will not go out without a good life saving suit. And yes, i do have a ladder and all of my partners can run the boat. I have had the same thoughts about falling over and im aware that i am at risk, and need to take precautions .
One of the worst effects of my injury to my spine, was what it did to my legs. It sucks to be messed up this young, but, im tough, and if i get a few bumps, no big deal. I was even thinking about getting a pair of shin guards like a baseball catcher wears (almost). That would keep my legs from getting beat up so bad. id. p.

Lovestafish · 05-13-2003, 12:10 PM

Well, we didn't have any injuries, but if you were out at the chicken ranch last Saturday & heard about the Coast Guard towing in a boat that had lost all it's electricity, well, that would have been us. Fortunately, another boat (didn't get the name)was good enough to radio in for us.
We only got a chance to make 2 drifts, and we had 3 legals (40" was the biggest) and one just a shade to small is getting bigger as we speak. 5 hours is a loooooong ride back in; we were extremely grateful to the guys & gals of the Coast Guard who did a great job. We chalked up to "an experience", one I won't soon forget!

Snapset · 05-13-2003, 12:27 PM

Greenbuttskunk pointed out an prime hazard, the danger of a flying 2 pound chunk of lead. I have been both the bonker and bonkee, trying to net a Halibut over low gunwales with a short net. When you are getting green already and then pick up a goose egg netting your buddies fish which he is going to lord over you for the rest of a trip, a 3 inch goose egg really makes the experience complete, let me tell you.
After that first year, we learned to cut the lead off as soon as it gets out of the water, then net the Flat-boy. It still can be absolute chaos and mayhem, especially when he gets in the boat.

edsr · 05-13-2003, 01:35 PM

Hey I.D. - Falling down happens to all of us but 10 times in a trip seems excessive.

Is there a way to modify your boat so that you have a hand rail within reach at all times?

Is it possible to erect a small boom or mast of, say, 3"dia. Al. pipe or some other stout material and then putting on a harness rigged so it will keep you from hitting something that would do damage? There are harness thingies which are used on construction jobs, heck they even use them in Home Depot when people are stacking items on the 2nd and 3rd tiers.

There are, as mentioned earlier, life vests wich not only inflate but have a harness built-in, the kind that sailboaters use. It would be a cheap investment to get a harness and a flotation suit to keep you "padded" and trussed-up.

Hell, even a football helmet, elbow and knee pads would make a big difference.

edsr

corrirod · 05-13-2003, 02:20 PM

I.d.,

The conditions on Saturday were not typical conditions for small boats to be running in. It is very easy to break something in those conditions of 3-4ft. wind chop. I know my boat hit so hard on a couple of waves I thought the whole boat would just split in half, and the passengers too! :shocked: I've often thought about wearing a weight/support belt for the rides out and back. I can completely understand how someone could crack a disc!

Falling happens alot to, usually while tying up a rig or doing something other than watching the oncoming waves. I don't know how many times I've been trying to tie on a new rig or looking down and here comes a huge swell and sends me doing the Pacific Ocean shuffle all over the deck! I've fallen into the motorwell more times than I'd care to discuss also!

It's all about picking your days and driving under the conditions that are most comfortable to you.

Thumper · 05-13-2003, 03:00 PM

The NF Lewis is a lot calmer.....

HawgJaw · 05-13-2003, 11:05 PM

You might also think about putting in some of those 1' tall rails in towards the rear corners of the boat. It seems that might help stop some mishaps. I also have one of those 4 legged swivel chairs that really helps when your reeling in a fish from 750'. HJ

id. painter · 05-13-2003, 11:43 PM

Hawgjaw, thanks for the tip. I think you are right. I have given a railing some thought . With my downriggers mounted the way they are toward the aft end , they actually work as rails, if the arm is not out, but swiveled back. For right now , im getting all the other goodies like back up everything. And a survival suit...id. p.

greenbuttskunk · 05-13-2003, 11:53 PM

I almost got it last sat. by another guys swinging 32oz lead ball. Fortunately I saw it coming and ducked just in time. It surely would have done a number on my mellon in a big way. I can see how the compression injuries can occure too. You have to be constantly aware of how you are standing, sitting, walking. Especially under power in a rough sea.

Fishplay · 05-14-2003, 02:16 AM

That it is Thumper; and when it starts kicking out white fleshed fish that taste like halibut and cod be sure to private mesage me. :grin:

The broken ankle happened on my boat.
The reason Wayne was standing up is he graciously gave up the suspension seat he was riding in in an attempt to move some weight forward and ease planing.

Wayne, like myself, has a bad back and sitting on a stationary seat even in good seas is uncomfortable for us.

When it happened I blamed myself for running a little to hard. Then I blamed myself for allowing someone to stand while running. I have pondered what I could do to prevent this sort of accident from happening again.

Had he been seated it could very possibly have been the same outcome as the guy with the compressed vertebrae.

If I make way at a speed that insures no injuries in a 19ft boat the Chicken Ranch becomes a 3.5 to 4 hour run.

My ultimate conclussion. Since the ODFW insists upon favoring the Charter businesses when determining Halibut seasons I will match my boat to the hatch. The sled has been retired.

id. painter · 05-14-2003, 07:09 AM

Thanks for all the info guys. This helps me.
Yes i fall much more easy than i used too. My knees are weak. But i dont fall, completely out of control. I mostly fell to my hands and knees and like someone mentioned, i was crawling.
I didnt feel like my mellon was at risk of getting cracked but i did feel like i could fall out.
I think im going to be wearing a life suit, kneepads, and have a rope handy to toss.
Halibut season should be in Mid to late June , calmer seas.
I will not go too fast,,, my spine is too important to get in a" fish hurry" and hurt myself.I dont care if it takes me 4 hours ,,, I cant hurt spine again. You cant either. Be careful with your back... id. p.