I have only gone off shore fishing maybe 10 times & have gotten sick twice. No problem with roller coasters just on long boat rides.I know most of you guys are salties,but even some of the captains on "Deadliest Catch" get sick the first few days.I just don't eat before I go out now,just gatorade.I have tried the patch & once I took so many dramamine I could barely stay awake.
Last time I went to Destin in July we limited out on Red snapper. First of all,When we headed out there were 6 foot swells & a young boy got sick immediately.The crew sprayed this sweet smelling deodorizer which made it worse. My cousin was eating sardines/crackers & hot sauce like there's no tomorrow! I had to get some air,I went to the back of the boat where the diesel fumes were full bore.I had to go to the rail,after I was done & a few more dry heaves it was a great trip :fish
Last trip offshore was the first time I felt a bit queasy. Joe was there to laugh at me. Couldn't look down for more than a few seconds, had to keep the horizon in view. And I think it was because I was on an empty stomach because after I ate something I felt perfectly fine the rest of the trip. Which was good because it was a night trip and by 9pm the horizon had disappeared.
Prior to that I had only gotten sick once on a boat. And I don't really count it, because that was a cruise ship and I was completely plastered so it might not actually have been the sea causing it.
;D I have spent the first 15 years of my life on a family owned charter boat. I do not get sick ,but a gulp of diesel fumes can get your attention at times or a stinky head smell.
It is a terrible feeling just wanting the trip to be over
I always eat a "stick to your ribs" meal the night before and a hearty breakfast the day of.
I also make sure I'm hydrated. I carry candied ginger for those that do get sick. They're pretty sure I'm trying to kill them, but most feel better if they can keep it down. I try to find half cans of ginger ale to bring too.
I don't get seasick, but I do put on charter trips for the Air Force guys I work with. I tell them to start the Dramane two days prior, no drinking, and reiterate hydration. I take it personal if any get sick which is why I carry the above.
I never heard of the ginger candy remedy any particular brand ?
I tried almost everything that I learned of. I tried both candied and raw ginger, no help. Pills, patch, pressure and electric wrist bands. Different things work for different people and may not work consistently.
I tried drinking beer, I felt happy, but still got sick.
I altered my pre trip diet, didn't work.
There are thousands of seasickness posts, what works for one may not work for another.
I settled on:eating a banana and drinking orange juice in the parking lot. Some are superstitious about bananas on board. When it came up, it was smooth and sweet, and there was something to come up.
Quote from: Alan M on February 02, 2025, 06:56:09 PMThere are thousands of seasickness posts, what works for one may not work for another.
This right here. Transderm works for me, and while I usually don't take anything for a short "day" trip I frankly don't want to risk the co$t of a Long Range trip to getting sick. Understand that Transderm doesn't work for everybody (I am old enough to remember when it was taken off the market because it's effectiveness was not wide enough to warrant what it was advertised to cure/prevent. Thankfully it is widely available again). Funny enough, was very fortunate to fish with Hardy Boy a couple years ago, and my son was going so wanted to take precautions (thankfully we did - was a little "sporty" around Point Scott). Dramamine is pretty much a USA thing - same drug has entirely different name north of the border (Gravol). There is another prevention that I have heard about, but have no personal experience - goes by the name (my spelling may be off) Sturgeon Forte or Cinnerazine. This is one where a conversation with your medical provider will probably be more productive than relying on us Ohana for a definite solution. - john
I fished the white Marlin open 3 days straight. Got sick the first day. The next two days was fine. I guess your body gets used to it.
There are many contributors to make one susceptible but only one sure fire remedy - wetting a line & hooking up! I'm assuming it's adrenaline but whatever mix of biochemicals it is - I'll take it over all the other medicines put together.
Quote from: jgp12000 on February 02, 2025, 06:36:52 PMI never heard or the ginger candy remedy any particular brand ?
My wife buys in the bulk spice section, but this is essentially it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046IXP7M?th=1
Ginger is a known stomach soother but I'm not implying its a cure all.
Quote from: sciaenops on February 02, 2025, 08:42:05 PMThere are many contributors to make one susceptible but only one sure fire remedy - wetting a line & hooking up! I'm assuming it's adrenaline but whatever mix of biochemicals it is - I'll take it over all the other medicines put together.
The above is the best cure I know.
When I charter a boat for my Air Force Friends it's always a Rock Cod trip because I know they'll catch fish to take their minds off of it. If they'll try that is.
Better living through chemistry. The mixture a lot of folks around here swear by is Promethazine (often sold as Phenergan), an anti-histamine that has useful anti-nausea/anti-emetic effects, plus Caffeine to counteract the drowsiness the first one causes. Sometimes supplemented by either ginger or, more pharmaceutically, hyoscine butylbromide.
Zofran is as close as it gets to foolproof. Still some left over from my wife's pregnancy. If it can stop that exorcist fountain...
Quote from: boon on February 03, 2025, 12:23:50 AMBetter living through chemistry. The mixture a lot of folks around here swear by is Promethazine (often sold as Phenergan), an anti-histamine that has useful anti-nausea/anti-emetic effects, plus Caffeine to counteract the drowsiness the first one causes. Sometimes supplemented by either ginger or, more pharmaceutically, hyoscine butylbromide.
Dramamine is also a type of antihistamine. Dramamine also causes drowsiness. Some over-the-counter sleep aids are just antihistamines as well.
Whenever I'm taking dramamine, I'll take along a supply of red bull to suppress the drowsy part of it
If ginger candy supposedly works or helps I wonder if ginger snap cookies would work?
I will get sea sick every time I go out, unless I take a travel calm tablet about an hour before I step onto the boat, I have tried ginger and a few other remedies, that have never worked for me. cheers Don, I should nt have told you that, now you wont leave any fish for me.
I've never been bothered, myself, but my advice to the guys that go out with us(most are "NOT used to big water (or boats, for that matter), is to eat "light", before we go, and if you start feeling "queasy", DON'T look at the water, the horizon, or ANYTHING outside the boat...look at stuff that's "moving the same as you are"....seems to help most of them.
This is in the "different people different effects" category. I think watching the horizon helps my subconscious brain realize that yes, my sense of equilibrium is working properly, the boat really is moving and that sensation is not caused by dizziness or a stomach bug, because the boat is moving.
The only time I'd ever had issues prior to that most recent trip (where I didn't lose it btw just felt queasy) was when I was using the head and didn't have any frame of reference.
But that's just me. If I tried telling you I'm a normal case, I'd ask if I managed to do so with a straight face.
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on February 03, 2025, 12:48:03 AMZofran is as close as it gets to foolproof. Still some left over from my wife's pregnancy. If it can stop that exorcist fountain...
+1 for Zofran. I took some on a tuna trip years ago and was back on deck fishing and eating in 45 minutes. It was a game changer. Emend is also another anti nausea medication used in post op recovery, chemo and sea sickness.
I've found that a light breakfast, and NO coffee, helps before going offshore. Every time I drink coffee beforehand, I start feeling queasy. Also, always carry some crackers and water/gatorade if the stomach feels uneasy while out there. Looking at the horizon is helpful too.
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on February 03, 2025, 02:20:29 PMI think watching the horizon helps my subconscious brain realize that yes, my sense of equilibrium is working properly, the boat really is moving and that sensation is not caused by dizziness or a stomach bug, because the boat is moving.
LOL, this a something I've experienced with a lot of my Air Force friends.
They'll be in the galley, looking out the window, seeing nothing but sky and water "flashes" with a hypnotized gaze.
I tell them to knock it off and go outside. Those that listen normally don't get as sick. Those that don't I give a 5-gallon bucket to and tell them they'd better tip the crew...
A lot of good advice here. I also think being well rested, with very easy going food for a few days prior to the trip can help. I use the patch, and due to some health issues I wouldn't divulge here, I carry some Zofran too. Fresh breeze with a touch of spray, and a horizon can sometimes chase the urge to heave away. Dramamine doesn't work all that good, in fact it kind of makes me nauseous to take it. Once I get a few days at sea under my belt, I am pretty good. If I hear that weather is coming up, I will put a new patch on. Those patches can dehydrate you, so make sure to stay charged up on your hydration. Liquid IV, Gatorade that is diluted 1/1 with water or weaker, or electrolyte water can help.
When I was a deckhand on charter boats I kept a bag of candied ginger handy for clients that were sick.
Quote from: oldmanjoe on February 02, 2025, 03:37:37 PM;D I have spent the first 15 years of my life on a family owned charter boat. I do not get sick ,but a gulp of diesel fumes can get your attention at times or a stinky head smell.
Me too, not sick but not well either.
For me the generic Walmart motion sickness works well. 1 the night before and another when I drive down to the landing.
On the long range trips, 1 every 8 hours for the first. Couple days is enough. On the return home we are going against the current, so I may go back to every 8 hours. I tried the transderm patch, it works well for me on 3 day or shorter trips, however longer than 3 days the withdrawals from the patch leaves me with near vertigo. YMMV
A friend of mine is an avid surfer and bass fisherman. No problem there, but get him on the big water and it's game over. NO matter what measures are taken.
Don't ever eat fried chicken & drink coke classic on the way out.When the boat stopped my stomach kept moving.
It weren't pretty...
Quote from: Bill B on February 04, 2025, 05:35:50 PMA friend of mine is an avid surfer and bass fisherman. No problem there, but get him on the big water and it's game over. NO matter what measures are taken.
That's me too and the reason why I only fish inshore.
dramamine for breakfast and lunch works for me. otherwise I'm laying down a chum line from the gunwales..
Once took the troop to Boy Scout Seabase, a week on a sailboat off the Keys.
I offered my dramamine around the first morning, no takers, all thought themselves sailors.
next morning had to open the second packet to get everyone dosed ;-)
love whitewater canoeing, all kinds of water upheavals there but it doesn't bother me a bit.
On the saltwater, pitching and rolling while someone cuts up squid for bait.. whoops !
I have only been flat fishing once for speckle trout & reds,it was great! Like lake fishing & you never know what you'll catch.We caught some small sharks,the charter boat captains know where the oyster bars are that's a plus ;D
I used to use the transdermal scopolamine ear patch, until I had a bad reaction. I started hallucinating on the boat. It was a friend of my daughter's boat so they brought me back to her house. It scared the heck out of my wife as she thought I was having some sort of mental breakdown. It took many hours to wear off. Now I use Bonine, a brand of Meclizine. Chew one tiny pill at night and one in the morning. It lasts pretty much all day while fishing. It is not as drowsy making as Dramamine. It upsets me that I cannot control motion sickness without this aid though every once in a while I go without it to see how I do. I have made through, and just a little queasy. Dominick
Hey Tommy, ginger snaps worked for me when I went on a schooner ride for a whole day.
Yes, ginger candies work well.
Best,
Dom
Good to know, Dom! 8)
My mom brings me ginger snaps every so often,addictive,I cant eat just one.