Sea Lion Grabs Fisherman Off Boat

pdxkevin · 03-12-2004, 05:28 AM

Sea Lion Grabs Fisherman Off Boat
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A 19-year-old fisherman is recovering from an encounter with a sea lion that leaped out of the water, grabbed him as he worked on his grandfather's docked boat and pulled him into the harbor at King Cove.

"It happened so fast, I forgot what I was doing," said Ray Dushkin Jr., who was not seriously injured in the abduction Tuesday.

Dushkin spent a few moments beneath the water's surface before the hefty animal let go. Dushkin's left buttock sports an inch-and-a-half scrape, but no bite mark, he said. His coveralls were torn through, as were the pants worn beneath them.

About 4:30 p.m., Ray Dushkin Sr. was standing on the top of the bridge and asked his son to hand him the hatch. Young Dushkin was standing two feet from the edge of the boat. Several sea lions were in the area.

"The sea lion was just swimming around the boat like they do always when the boats are delivering fish," Ray Sr. said. And just like that, the creature � estimated about 12 feet long and between 1,200 and 1,500 pounds � leaped a half dozen or more feet out of the water and grabbed his son.

"He went over like a rag doll," the father told the Anchorage Daily News. "The only thing I was thinking is, that sea lion was taking off with my boy, and I'll never see him again."

Then the sea lion let the young man go. Ray Sr. helped Ray Jr. climb aboard the boat.

The younger Dushkin was examined at the local clinic and given antibiotics.

link

skein · 03-12-2004, 05:46 AM

I can kinda relate to that story.

Last year when we got in from the Swordfish trip I was carking tuna at Popeye's boat and when I turned to carry a carcass over to the cart, a sealion lunged up and ripped the thing out of my hand. It sure got my attention.

Skein

Bait O' Eggs · 03-12-2004, 06:05 AM

Read the title to the thread and thought Ray snapped :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:

skein · 03-12-2004, 06:24 AM

Good one, Roy.

Skein

Marty · 03-12-2004, 08:36 AM

6 or 8 years ago I was buying tuna from a commercial boat in Newport and the owner who was filleting fish told me that the day before a sea lion came up and ate a small dog at the edge of the dock. It could have been worse because an older lady was holding the dog on a leash and she too almost went in. These are big creatures with big teeth!!!!!

Marty

WP · 03-12-2004, 12:24 PM

Many years ago, while fishing the boat ramp on the little Nestucca, I watched a sealion come ashore to bask on the break water where a woman was fishing. The woman obviously wanted that spot badly as she proceeded to "chase" the sealion away from her tackle...the sealion had other thoughts and charged her. The good news was that the sealion only wanted the spot and not the woman and that the woman realized she wasn't going to win this confrontation. She back pedaled rapidly for about 20 feet which seemed to satisfy the sealion (lucky as it moved very fast even on land). Later the woman was able to retrive her gear. I was amazed that anyone would argue with a 1500+ lbs sealion over a spot of breakwater. I see people all the time walking near the sealions basking ob docks and wonder if someone isn't going to get killed soon. These are BIG wild animals that do not fear man (or woman!)
Dave

Skipper · 03-12-2004, 02:31 PM

When will the sealion tags be issued?

Cheerio'
Skipper

Reel Creel · 03-12-2004, 03:58 PM

Two for one tags?... lets hope

skein · 03-12-2004, 04:09 PM

Don't bet on it. Did you happen to see the Yahoo edition of the story? They included a picture of a cute little California sealion named "Chippy" who was waddling off into the surf wearing a radio device to track movements. You can bet they're not going to show some big bull Steller sealion with a menacing look and a mouthfull of teeth.

Maybe we need to invite those nice folks to visit us at dockside and tell 'em to be sure and bring Fifi. :grin:

Skein

8knots · 03-12-2004, 04:28 PM

We could give Fifi a herring collar.

corkyking · 03-12-2004, 04:46 PM

Last summer there was a big old bull cruising back and forth just off shore. He was obviously pretty sick and only wanted to haul out on the beach to rest but my son and I were fishing there and a lady with a squeek dog was walking along.

We finally put enough distance between us and the old bull pulled himself ashore and sat with his head raised facing the warmth of the sun.

I was kinda keeping an eye on him not only because it was quite a sight but also because he was huge. About that time the lady decided to walk her dog down to look at the pretty seal.

The dog was at the end of it's lead barking it's head off as they approached. The bull calmly looked at the approaching meal and raised itself just a little higher.

I know that you'll understand when I say that I had to get a little rude with the lady to get her to walk away from a very dangerous situation.

Sick or not, none of us would have been a match for it the operative word being lion.

[ 03-12-2004, 05:47 PM: Message edited by: corkyking ]

fishwhenican · 03-12-2004, 05:07 PM

I was diving in Hoods Canal several years ago, spearing fish, when I noticed a sealion on the other side of my dive partner. It made several quick laps around us, then suddenly it had its nose to the catch bag on my buddys belt. When I kicked over to let my partner know the sealion was around (he hadn't noticed him). The sealion charged me, and bumped into me (like a linebacker sacking a quarterback), my partner finally saw the sealion at that point. After a quick lap or two around us again, he came in fast, and I met him with my spear. I didn't stick him solid, because I didn't want to lose my spear, I just wanted him to know that if he was going to do the "bump", I was going to do the "poke". We surfaced at that point and since the shore was closer than the boat we kicked to shore. The sealion followed us all the way to shore popping his teeth and snorting then stayed around for about 10 minutes just off shore. Then after he was gone we tossed a coin to see who would kick back out to get the boat.

Ever since that day I've often wondered, if you shot them with a bang stick do they sink?

MarlinMark · 03-14-2004, 07:36 PM

Fishwhenican,

If you were worried for your life then it doesn't matter whether or not they sink. I would have shot the thing with the bang stick and reported the incident to the officials. Human life and the protection there of is not over ruled by the endangered species act, or the (marine mammal protection whatever they call it) It's just like grizzlies.

Mark

skein · 03-14-2004, 08:27 PM

Maybe in defense of our lives, but certainly not in defense of our property.

PS. I'll bet I could "train" these guys not to lounge around on my boat. :grin:

Skein

[ 03-14-2004, 09:29 PM: Message edited by: skein ]

fishwhenican · 03-15-2004, 05:10 PM

MarlinMark, I wasn't afraid for my life, just knew it was going to be a lose-lose situation, that I might come out on the worse end of. I didn't have a bang stick at the time, nor do I own one today. The spear gun I had that day would have provided a fatal shot, but not before I got chewed on.

Just the dream OR nightmare of shooting one that decides to play bumperball with me.

Mr. Carp · 03-15-2004, 10:38 PM

Marty, same thing happened when we were up at Neah bay a couple of years ago halibut fishing in the summer. An old lady was down by the cleaning station on the docks and a big bull jumped up on the dock, grabbed the poodle, and went back down. The lady reluctantly had to let go of the leash. Pretty crazy.