St. Marks Catfish Story 9.21.2013

[mjsigns]

Went fishing yesterday out of St. Marks. It was kind of overcast, and a light breeze was blowing at the ramp. Me and Shawn and “Kip The –Sea Dog” pushed of from the dock around 10:am. Maybe twenty trailers in the parking area not crowed at all. This was my first fishing trip since May?? Well we got out to the bird rack with a good breeze blowing out of the south west. Made a wide turn to the east and tried to get up on plane. Stopped pretty quickly when I found we were only in 1.5’ of water. Trimmed her up and took it slow eastward. The sea was a little upset throwing some 3’ swells in a 1.5’ chop. It was nasty and we were both already soaked in salt water and all the gear ect…. It felt good to be out there almost totally alone except tor the hard core partiers on the big sand bar by the rack. Finally found 6-8 foot of water and started a drift. The swells and chop made it impossible to stand up. But it was fishable. The water looked a deep dark brown (visibility 1.5’ 80.2 degrees. We immediately started getting hits from pinfish. Later I caught a lizard fish. Kip was trying to eat that thing live. Then the catfish started hitting anything we threw (jigging). So I catch this 3 LB catfish and am using my "super catfish grabber tool". I am holding him in the ultimate “death grip”. I get the hook out and start to release this guy and…. “BAM” I get finned in the middle finger. I am experienced and skilled as an artist. “Damn ! “ I let it rip out. This guy just “speared me to the bone”, and just swam away. I treat it like a rattle snake bite. Sucking the poison out and spitting blood over-board. I did this about 3-4 times as the pain takes over. Then I break out the first aid kit and apply alcohol wipes and smear the blood everywhere. I then apply some Neosporin and wrap it off with a single band aid. As the pain passes, I start fishing again, and more catfish. I figure it’s that time of year for them. 2:pm -The wind picks up to a steady 20 knots and white caps all around. We pack it in and head back to the hill, and get re-soaked all the way back to the mouth of the river. Got home at 3:pm, no fish to clean, used some fuel but it was kind of fun.

I wake up in Sunday morning and my finger is huge. I remove the band aid and squeeze all kinds of fluid out. It is nasty and painful. Went on to church as usual and were headed home and only then notice my whole hand has swelled up like a ripe tomato. We call Urgent Care and make an appointment for 2:30. I was exhausted when I was summoned through the doors to a waiting lady nurse to weigh in and get my vitals. A Lady Dr came in and took a look and asked if it was ok to "lance" the pound then she issues orders, 2 syringes of antibiotics. I tried to resist.. “Why two shots? I can handle the lance, but two shots?” The nurse calls the Doc and says it’s two shots or you sign a “refusal to receive care” form on a clip board in her hand-… I am at a loss of words. My negotiations failed. The Doc says, "how bout we give them two shots together at the same time”. I agree thinking it would be easier this way, kind of like one shot. The doc says drop’em (my pants) and put your elbows on the table. I am freaking out, I hate needles… I beg them to please don’t hit any bones (cause I have no ass what so ever). “BAM” the needles hit at the same time, one left cheek, one right. Four long seconds tick by and it seems to be “over”. Lady Doc and nurse both get the grins (I think they liked my skinny booty). I am glad also, it’s over. She prescribes me some kick-but antibiotics (three prescriptions).
6:45 – My booty is sore, there is no comfortable “spot” to sit in this house, and my hand is still puffed up and am in recovery mode.

Moral of the report....Be careful with them catfish. No matter how many times you've un-hooked them, remember this story and be careful with each one every time. All it takes is 1/2 a careless second.

[Harmsway]

“BAM” the needles hit at the same time, one left cheek, one right.

I feel for you, mjsigns. I gave plenty of penicillin shots in my days as an Army medic in the 70s. The best way to go is to really warm them up first, give them really slow, and 1 barrel at a time. Buttheads got the cold, fast, double-barrel treatment. Moral of the story . . . Don't mess with the medic.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

HEY MIKE, SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE KISS FROM THE CATFISH, TAKE CARE, THOSE THINGS CAN BE SORE FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER MEDICATION, DO NOT LET IT GET INFECTED, KEEP IT CLEAN.
PA
SEMPER FI

[SS-342]

Mike:

That was as good as the Cobia story. Sorry about the catfish sting they hurt! The first couple of catfish are fun to catch but the hazard isn't worth the fun. I move and look for another spot when they aren't. I know the feeling of being back on the water. Nothing like it!

Thanks for a good story and positive reminder. Hope you are soon well and back fishing.

[mjsigns]

Ok it's Monday ,morning. Thought my ass would be sore, booty it is fine. My hand is still swollen and I can see only one knuckle. The swelleing seems to have spread out even more....

[bman]

Dang man... that stinks!

I'd go back to the doc.
Did they tell you to do anything else? I hear heat it good for the toxins.

[wevans]

Use these to grab the hook, while the catfish is OUTSIDE the boat and shake him loose I try to not touch the danged thangs, unless I plan to keep it
http://www.sears.com/trademark-tools-11 ... ckType=G22

[red_yakker]

That sucks man, but I'm glad you went on to the doctor. The worst thing you can do is let it go until they end up having to amputate something. I know a guy who got bit by an alligator (minor bite as far as alligator bites go) and waited almost a week to go to the doctor. Instead, he thought he could just boil some bleach water, and hold his hand in it as long as he could stand the pain. His hand swelled up like something out of a horror movie before he called a doctor! Needless to say, hot bleach water does not do the trick.
Don't be shy about calling the doctor back. You don't want that infection getting out of hand.
I try to avoid touching salt-water cats when I catch them, sometimes going as far as cutting the line rather than trying to retrieve the hook. I have another buddy who is allergic to sail-cat slime. All he has to do is touch it, and he breaks out in a rash and starts to swell.

[neckmoe]

I won't even let them nasty things over the gunwale of the boat and damn sure won't handle them. Seen to many folks entire fishing trip ruined by those nasty creatures. Cut them free and move to new location.

[thebpac]

I was in the same general area Saturday. All we landed was Catfish. We probably caught close to 20 of the damned things.

Sorry to hear about the finger!

[Greenbone]

OUCH
I keep a small hooked tool on my boat just to remove those critters.

Even a small gaff will do the trick. Hold the leader in left hand, slide the tool or gaff with right hand down to the hook, Flip overhand and

fish becomes unhooked, never having to handle the fish or even come into the boat.

[luceror]

I feel your pain!!! I am definately gunshy of those things.. OUCH!! I got hit by a bat ray ounce,-- that pain was twice as bad as a catfish spine. That ray stung me like a scorpion would strike. As soon as I barely touch it, it struck--on purpose!

[ugadawg]

The key to treating catfish stings is heat, heat, and more heat. The venom of saltwater cats is very similar to that of sting rays, and the protein will get denatured by the heat, and the pain will subside. After the pain management, just have to keep it clean to avoid infection. I had a guy on my boat step on catfish once, and word do not describe the pain that he went through, and the amount that we laughed at him the next day for stepping on a fish.

[Harmsway]

Yeah, ugadawg is right. The protein in catfish slime is a neurotoxin. Heat deactivates it. So does meat tenderizer. Make a paste and slap it right on the wound. Reminds me to get a new bottle of McCormick's unseasoned.