MNHNTR

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I love the ocean but over the years Ive tried 4 times on various boats to go fishing! I get deathly sick everytime while my lil bro wins the jackpot! Does anyone have any remedies or new drug ican try. Ive used the "patch", dramamine, bonine, and the active ingredient mezcaline (sp). On catalina trips to the island I use bonine which is fine for the 1 hour trip.
 

SDHNTR

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I don't get seasick and have always heard that the patch is the best drug, but you have to put it on the night before you get on the boat. Additionally, the secret to using the Bonine or Dramamine is to take it WAY before you get on the boat. That stuff takes a long time to get into your system. Take it even before the package indicates. Pretend that you are getting on the boat the day before you actually are. Or at least begin taking the pills (or patch) 8 hours before you get on the boat. That is the secret. The medicine does no good once you are already sick, or if you get sick prior to the drug taking effect. Just be careful if you have to drive a ways because that stuff makes you sleepy. Also, drink lots of water. Avoid greasy food, coffee and alcohol. Avoid gas/diesel fumes and stay away from people who are smoking. Stay out of the cabin and off the bow. Keep some breeze in your face. Do not try to fight the rocking of the boat. The best thing to do is to sit down somewhere midship and outside. Sit as low to the deck as possible. Avoid the bridge and upper decks. Loosen your body's muscles and allow yourself to roll with the boat. You get sick when you try to counteract the rocking. The absolute best cure for seasickness is catching lots of fish. Try to time your trip around a time when lots of fish are biting. This keeps your mind occupied, which is 99% of the battle. All this took me 6 years of working on party boats to figure out. Good luck and go get em.
 

Speckmisser

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MN,

I can relate. I used to get terribly sick when I was a kid. Years later, when I was running my own boat, I never had a problem. Then, out of the blue, I got sick on two trips (one was rougher than a damned cob, though...). Last year in FL, I didn't have any problems at all, though.

When I was younger, the only medication that worked was Triptone. I don't even know if it's still available, but it worked when neither Bonine nor Dramamine would work.

A really big part of motion sickness is psychosomatic. You convince yourself that you're gonna be sick, and it's all downhill from there. If you can keep your mind occupied on other things (rigging baits, running the boat, tending rods, etc.), you're over the hump. And of course, as SD says, if you get into the fish you should never have a problem.

Other tips include watching a fixed point on the horizon (great, if you can see land). Don't fixate on the boat's wake... watch anything else, but don't watch the wake. Stay in open air, and avoid diesel fumes if possible. NEVER go below... and especially avoid the head. Close that door and you're doomed.

Don't party hard the night before you go fishing (I know this is a hard one), and get plenty of sleep. If your system is already weak, the fight will be all uphill and you'll probably lose. On the other hand, if you're out there and not feeling ill, go ahead and have a beer or a light soda (ginger-ale or 7-up are great). I'd avoid dark sodas like Coke and Pepsi.

Keep something good in your stomach. No greasy stuff, but oatmeal for breakfast is a great thing. A lot of the diveboat captains I've known like to serve pineapple on board, and that seems to be comforting to lots of folks. No bananas, of course, since bananas on a vessel are BAD luck.

But it all comes down to your mind. Don't focus on seasickness. Think about anything else. Keep yourself busy, talk about hunting, fishing, or sports, or the news.

Good luck! Seasickness SUCKS!
 

paulc

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MNHNTR, I really feel for you. i finally just gave up on deep sea fishing. i almost always got sick and i tried everything. i am convinced that it was all in my head. to this day if i smell diesal and seawater i start to feel queasy.
i would fish while i was puking because it was so fun, but i finally realized that i am a landlubber. The fish cheered that day i put down the rod.
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DKScott

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
Don't party hard the night before you go fishing (I know this is a hard one), and get plenty of sleep. If your system is already weak, the fight will be all uphill and you'll probably lose.[/b]

Not sure about that one. I was was out on a chartered cruiser in Mexico. Partied all night, sick as a dog, but nothing left to come up. It was a slow day and very rough. My friends were all seasick and when a really big sailfish finally hit the jig, I was the only one that could make it to the pole - My fish!

Of course, another time also in Mexico same circumstances except a panga on flat calm water, I basically hung over the side and chummed all morning - much to the delight of my friends and the pangero
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Speckmisser

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Good info on that site, there, Capt. Jeff.

I've marked it for future reference.
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DK

The one common denominator in my last three or four bouts of seasickness was a late night involving alcohol and rich foods. I wasn't hungover, but my system was weak and I hate to think what the acids in my stomach were doing. Also, being tired makes it hard for your equilibrium to keep up with movement.

Of course, being down to the dry heaves sounds like a potential alternative.
 

DKScott

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It's tough love for your gut .... A side benefit is that its the equivalent of a couple hundred sit-ups, so at least you won't miss your workout.
 

MNHNTR

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Thanks for all the information, I appreciate it! I know I have always violated rule- don't go inside and lie down! The last trip out of San Diego I was in the bunk for 20 hours !!!!!!! If I would have had my gun with me I may have shot my big toe just to "take my mind off of everything" You guys mentioned the mind/ body link, which I beleive is true. It is a big ordeal when I start to think about it. The last 20 hour deathbed vigil started about 2 NM's from the dock! Earlier this year a friend organized a partyboat trip to catalina. that was the week the channel was blown wide open by wind and high swell action. I took the bonine the day before and as it got closer to getting on the boat I could feel the anxiety rising! I was actually happy when the Skipper of the boat cancelled the trip due to the channel still being churned up! Again..... thanks for the info.
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HKE

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1 dramamine before bed with lots of water, 1 dramamine when you wake up with lots of water and 1 dramamine when you get on the boat with water. If its an all dayer take another with lunch with " lots of water" . Have fun fishing.
 

Thonzberry

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MNHNTR, Sorry to hear you
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when your on the ocean. I have been in some nasty waters and I don't get green look, thank God. A buddy of mine who is a die hard fisher and he went to the doctors and they did a blood test and after they gave a perscription ( The Patch ). I put one on to see how it felt and it started to make me sick, needless to say it was a strong dose they gave him. You might want to go see the doctors and see if they can give you something for your own system...Good Luck
 

SaltonSeadog

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I always use the patch. I always puke. It has only been bad once. Coming back from Guadalupe Island last fall I had a rough evening and slept in the Galley.
I have finally found a way to prevent any sea sickness, and indeed chase the aftermath of a bout away. I was told about it by an old Portugese Jackpoler. If you really want to fish free of any illness the secret is Brownies. Get a recipe from Cheech and Chong. They give that stuff to cancer patients to settle their stomachs. It works like a charm. It can be a little confusing if you are not used to it, so I reccomend exprimenting on an ongoing basis to get the dose right.
 

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