Is fishing dangerous?
It can be. There are a number of ways to get hurt in this sport. Here is a list of some of the dangers that I am aware of:
Stingrays. They can be found anywhere/everywhere throughout the shallow bay system and in the surf. Stepping on one means potentially getting barbed, which causes agonizing pain and most certainly a hospital visit. Sometimes a severe infection will follow. The two best defenses against stingrays are the “Stringray Shuffle”, and ray guards.
Sharp fish hooks. Most fishing hooks made today are “needle” sharp, and can easily end up in hands, eyes, and feet. When a hook barb goes into your flesh, you have an immediate problem to deal with. One way to avoid getting impaled by hooks is to move slowly (instead of hastily) when you are working with your tackle. Anytime I am tying leaders or changing lures, I make sure to “move slowly”, and it greatly decreases the number of times I get jabbed. A flailing fish can also easily impale you with hooks. I typically grab fish on the underside of the belly, so that I can orient their mouth (and the hooks) away from my body.
Vibrio vulnificus. Known as “Vibrio”, this is a flesh eating bacteria that has resulted in amputations if the infection is not dealt with promptly. It’s wise to keep open wounds out of saltwater, and if you do get water into an open would, clean it thoroughly with soap and alcohol.
Staphlococcus aureus. Known as “Staph”, this bacteria can result in nasty infections in the hands. Once, I cut my thumb on a red snapper gill while offshore fishing. The resulting Staph infection was painful and required strong antibiotics to fix. Thoroughly clean all cuts with soap and alcohol, and a little antibiotic ointment wouldn’t hurt either.
Saltwater catfish. The Hardhead Catfish and the Gafftop Catfish are sometimes caught when we are bait fishing. Both species have needle-like dorsal and pectoral fins, and you do not want to get impaled by them. It is very painful and can cause infection. Handle these fish carefully, or better yet, use a lip gripper when handling them.
Heat stress. Heat stress leads to possible heat stroke, and if this happens you are close to death. Be mindful of heat stress symptoms, such as dizziness, nausea, headaches, and fatigue. Drink lot of water and electrolytes. Learn how to stay cool.
Sunburn. We’ve all had a good sunburn, but it’s not something that should become habit. Out on the water, we are in direct sun, so we must learn to deal with this. There is plenty of sun-protective clothing available, so don’t get caught without it.
Cold stress. Cold stress leads to possible hypothermia, and if this happens you are close to death. Learn how to stay warm and dry. Whatever you do, do not wear cotton clothes in the outdoors. Fleece, GoreTex (and other similar synthetics), and wool are usually the recommended options.
Cold water immersion. Falling into cold water, even for a few minutes, can lead to loss of strength and drowning. Even if you make it out of the water, now you are at risk of cold stress. Be very careful traversing the bays in the cold months, and have a plan for if you do fall in.
Fog. Makes it hard to see where you’re going, and makes it hard for others to see you. You an also get lost easily and not be able to find your way back to shore. In Texas, thick fog is fairly common in the winter months, so it is important to stay vigilant and keep our bearings.
Strong winds. Strong winds cause chop/waves that make for difficult kayaking and can swamp small craft out in the open bay. It’s also not unheard of for fishermen to get swept off of jetties in very rough weather. The wind is something that we must always respect, as it can very easily overpower us.
Strong currents. This includes rip current at the beach and strong currents in/around Gulf passes. Currents kill people every year, so you must know how to avoid them, and deal with them if you get stuck in them. Generally speaking, you never try to swim against a current, because you won’t be able to (you will tire out and drown). Instead, let it suck you out as far as it wants, and when it finally subsides, you can find a route to swim back to shore.
Thunderstorms. Storms bring rain (hard to see/gets cold), strong winds, lightening, and (in rare cases) waterspouts. Do everything you can to avoid thunderstorms. Have a plan and a place in mind that you can seek shelter if you could potentially get caught in one.
Reckless, clueless, or drunk boaters. It goes without saying, but getting hit by a fishing boat traveling on full plane is not something I want to experience. Learn to stay away from boats when possible, look both ways when you are kayaking across navigation channels, and make yourself as visible as possible.
Rogue waves from large ships. Large ships, particularly the large tankers that we now see on the Texas coast, can generate rouge waves that will easily swamp a boat or kayak. Use extreme caution if you are fishing anywhere around ship channels.
Tugboats and Barges. Basically, they ain’t stopping for ya. Stay out of their way and give them plenty of room. Also, beware of the suction generated from the large tugboat propellers.
Bay bottom mud. Legend has it that there are some places in the back bays where, if you wade back there, you can sink up to your nuts in soft mud. I have not personally experienced this, but I have definitely sunk up to my knees in Corpus Christi’s Oso Bay. This can make for a bad situation if you don’t have the strength or energy to get out. Wading becomes very difficult when the mud gets that soft, and that’s probably a clue to fish that area with a kayak.
Kayak floating away. If you decide to stake/anchor your kayak while you go off and wade fish, beware that it could pull anchor and float away while you’re not paying attention. If this happens, you are literally stranded in the middle of nowhere. Always check your anchor/stake out pole to make sure that your kayak is secure before you go off and wade fish. Also, it is best to wade downwind of you kayak, so that if it does pull anchor, you you have the opportunity to catch it before it gets away.
Losing kayak paddle. Losing a paddle means that you are now stranded. You will be “up the creek without a paddle” essentially, except that you will be in the bay or laguna without a paddle. It’s best to always use a paddle leash.
Sharks and dolphins. These large marine animals can steal your stringer of fish, and they are much stronger (and better swimmers) than you are. If you can’t detach your stringer, you could potentially get pulled under/out. If keeping fish, always more sure that you can quickly detach your stringer. Better yet, leave the stringer at home (see article here) and get used to catch and release.
Jellyfish. Most of the jellyfish stings during my lifetime can be attributed to the sea nettle or the Portuguese Man O’ War. Jellyfish stings in Texas/US typically don’t cause shock or death, although this has happened on rare occasions. It is important to keep vinegar, rubbing alcohol, or meat tenderizer handy to neutralize stings.
Low tides. Low tides are common in the winter, but can happen at other times of year as well. They can result in you getting stranded in a back bay area without enough water to paddle home, and your only option is to walk back. Knowing the tides in your area is a key skill that all fishermen should learn.
Powerlines. There are powerline easements that run across the bay in certain places. Be sure not to cast into them, and always be cautions of potential downed powerlines, particularly after a big storm.
Duck hunters. Generally, coastal duck hunting is done with 12 gauge shotguns. Stay away from duck blinds during hunting season. If you can hear pellets landing in the water near you, you are probably too close.
Entanglement. Be cautious with paddle leashes, anchor lines, and fishing line. If you fall overboard and inadvertently get tangled, you may not be able to swim. Always have a knife handy so you can cut yourself free.
Slips on jetty rocks and boat ramps. Algae grows down near the water, and it is always extremely slippery. Make sure to stay above the algae line where you have good footing.
Waders filling with water. You can wade too deep and your waders could fill with water. Similarly, if you fall off of a boat or kayak in your waders, they could fill up. Although you won’t “sink” if your waters fill up, it could be very difficult to swim and keep your head above water. Always use caution when wearing waders, and have a plan for situations when they could fill up.
This article is intended mainly for awareness, so be careful out there folks. Determine which dangers are likely to apply to your style of fishing, then research the topics further to ensure you know how to keep yourself safe.
Have a reel good day,
– The Simple Fisherman