Stingrays.... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

j mo · 06-24-2010, 09:39 AM

Fished last night and landed at 10:ish to sirens and lights. A PB'er had an artery severed by a rays stinger, according to the Lifeguard I spoke with.

The scene on the beach was not pretty, beached twin engine and allot of blood....Good news was that he was met by the paramedics almost immediately and taken to Scripps. Hope he is ok.

So, for the love of Pete if you hook one, just cut the line, in addition to injuring you i'm certain that stinger could do serious damage to your kayak as well.

Side note- If you are fishing at night make sure you have a deck light or head lamp at the least. The boat above passed us doing at least 20knots on its way to shore. Later when we were helping them get off the sand one of the crew members said "I m glad we saw your light"

Best,
Josh

PS- Sorry for the PSA- I guess having two children is turning me into a danger ranger and I will have to abandon my long standing motto of "safety 3rd"

Willy · 06-24-2010, 10:15 AM

That's a crazy story! I hope the guy is OK.

Makes me think of the Croc Hunter. Rays are no joke...one wellplaced shot and it's curtains.

Good work on using your lights Josh.

Willy

467echo · 06-24-2010, 10:42 AM

what a bummer, I don't think thats the kind of blood on deck they were looking for

Holy Mackerel · 06-24-2010, 10:56 AM

Thanks for the heads up, do you know what kind of ray it was?

sandydiego · 06-24-2010, 11:20 AM

Oh Yeah!

dorado50 · 06-24-2010, 11:46 AM

Good info Josh! Much more enlightening as too ever present dangers around us than the usual "what color panties do you wear while on the the water"

Jimmyz123 · 06-24-2010, 11:41 AM

Knowing first hand the pain being stung has with it, I also advise that you cut the line rather than mass with them. I saw the type of stinger that got Steve Erwin and it's no wonder he didn't make it. That thing looked like a knife and then backed up with poison, No way man. Fishing is suppose to be fun.

Oh and about the PSA, I too have been a safety jerk following the birth of my son also. I use to be a little more stupid with thing I would do but not anymore.

Holy Mackerel · 06-24-2010, 11:47 AM

Figured it's a Bat ray, had a couple eat my bait in recent weeks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_ray

Quote:

While the bat ray, like other stingrays, has a venomous spine in its tail (near the base), it is not considered dangerous and uses the spine only when attacked or frightened.

FWIW, I have been shaking the hook loose at boatside with that tail whipping around, now on second thought a hook will rust out.

Dean Machine · 06-24-2010, 12:15 PM

What type of light were you using that the boaters were able to see? Did they say they saw it right away or kinda later than you would have liked?

dsafety · 06-24-2010, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j mo

PS- Sorry for the PSA- I guess having two children is turning me into a danger ranger and I will have to abandon my long standing motto of "safety 3rd"

"Danger Ranger", love it.

Wait until the kids are old enough to drive and sneak out after you thought they were in bed. Even worse are the times that they just fail to make it home at the agreed upon time. Cars, booze, drugs, sex and all the rest, combined with a teenager's uncanny ability to make unwise decisions can put a lot of stress on a parent.

My wife seldom slept on weekends while my kids were in High School. It was probably payback for all the dumb things we did when we were that age.

Bob

dorado50 · 06-24-2010, 02:57 PM

Hey Bob you lost me on this one!? So your kids got stung by rays?

dsafety · 06-24-2010, 03:35 PM

Dorado, Josh is at the stage in his life when everything is focused on protecting the little ones from danger. With every generation parents gets a little more protective. This may be a good thing... maybe not. I grew up in the age when no one wore seat belts or used sunscreen. Kids were shown the way to school a couple times and then expected to make it there and back without a parent's help. We did not wear helmets while riding bikes. There was no bottled water and fast food was considered healthy. Most of us survived the dangers of childhood.

My point was that if he worries about his kids' safety now, just wait a few years. It gets much worse.

Bob

bluesquids · 06-24-2010, 04:35 PM

I carry some quick clot in the bottom of my drybag. I never imagined you'd need it for a batray. Don't think they have much of a strike.

My last SCI trip... in one spot there were thousands on the floor elbow to elbow in every direction. They were gently fanning the sand up around themselves. The whole ocean floor looked like bubbling lava.

Jimmyz123 · 06-24-2010, 05:42 PM

I think everyone needs to re-thing their thoughts of Rays, they are actually a very calm creature and the only reason they sting is if they are bothered or scared. If left alone they will not seek you out to attack. Those barbs and their slimy skin are all they have to protect themselves.

06-24-2010, 09:39 AM	#1
j mo Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Encinitas Posts: 600	Stingrays.... Fished last night and landed at 10:ish to sirens and lights. A PB'er had an artery severed by a rays stinger, according to the Lifeguard I spoke with. The scene on the beach was not pretty, beached twin engine and allot of blood....Good news was that he was met by the paramedics almost immediately and taken to Scripps. Hope he is ok. So, for the love of Pete if you hook one, just cut the line, in addition to injuring you i'm certain that stinger could do serious damage to your kayak as well. Side note- If you are fishing at night make sure you have a deck light or head lamp at the least. The boat above passed us doing at least 20knots on its way to shore. Later when we were helping them get off the sand one of the crew members said "I m glad we saw your light" Best, Josh PS- Sorry for the PSA- I guess having two children is turning me into a danger ranger and I will have to abandon my long standing motto of "safety 3rd"

06-24-2010, 10:42 AM	#3
467echo Rookie of the Month Club Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mira Mesa Posts: 483	what a bummer, I don't think thats the kind of blood on deck they were looking for __________________ they are getting bigger....

06-24-2010, 12:15 PM	#9
Dean Machine Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Clemente Posts: 162	What type of light were you using that the boaters were able to see? Did they say they saw it right away or kinda later than you would have liked? __________________ "Good luck and tight lines!"

06-24-2010, 04:35 PM	#13
bluesquids Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jamul, CA Posts: 243	I carry some quick clot in the bottom of my drybag. I never imagined you'd need it for a batray. Don't think they have much of a strike. My last SCI trip... in one spot there were thousands on the floor elbow to elbow in every direction. They were gently fanning the sand up around themselves. The whole ocean floor looked like bubbling lava. __________________ Thanks, bluesquids

06-24-2010, 10:15 AM	#2
Willy Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: La Jolla Posts: 189	That's a crazy story! I hope the guy is OK. Makes me think of the Croc Hunter. Rays are no joke...one wellplaced shot and it's curtains. Good work on using your lights Josh. Willy

06-24-2010, 10:56 AM	#4
Holy Mackerel Señor member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,627	Thanks for the heads up, do you know what kind of ray it was?

06-24-2010, 11:20 AM	#5
sandydiego Rum Pirate Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wilds of Mira Mesa Posts: 388	Oh Yeah!

06-24-2010, 11:46 AM	#6
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	Good info Josh! Much more enlightening as too ever present dangers around us than the usual "what color panties do you wear while on the the water"

06-24-2010, 11:41 AM	#7
Jimmyz123 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,385	Knowing first hand the pain being stung has with it, I also advise that you cut the line rather than mass with them. I saw the type of stinger that got Steve Erwin and it's no wonder he didn't make it. That thing looked like a knife and then backed up with poison, No way man. Fishing is suppose to be fun. Oh and about the PSA, I too have been a safety jerk following the birth of my son also. I use to be a little more stupid with thing I would do but not anymore.

06-24-2010, 02:57 PM	#11
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	Hey Bob you lost me on this one!? So your kids got stung by rays?

06-24-2010, 03:35 PM	#12
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,121	Dorado, Josh is at the stage in his life when everything is focused on protecting the little ones from danger. With every generation parents gets a little more protective. This may be a good thing... maybe not. I grew up in the age when no one wore seat belts or used sunscreen. Kids were shown the way to school a couple times and then expected to make it there and back without a parent's help. We did not wear helmets while riding bikes. There was no bottled water and fast food was considered healthy. Most of us survived the dangers of childhood. My point was that if he worries about his kids' safety now, just wait a few years. It gets much worse. Bob

06-24-2010, 05:42 PM	#14
Jimmyz123 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,385	I think everyone needs to re-thing their thoughts of Rays, they are actually a very calm creature and the only reason they sting is if they are bothered or scared. If left alone they will not seek you out to attack. Those barbs and their slimy skin are all they have to protect themselves.