I launched the Panga this morning, putt putted over to Everingham Brothers near Dana Landing, got a half scoop of anchovies and decided to see what was biting on the far side of the kelp beds off of Ocean Beach. Dropped the anchor in about 80 feet of water, turned on my radio and baited up. two bites, no fish.
Changed baits and noted the rake marks on the bait. "OK Mr. Halibut, I got your number." I said to the seals circling my Panga. Made another drop and boom a nibble and then a hook up. With the line still near the bottom the fish was tussling and faintly tugging. I figured what the hell, it's probably small. I reeled in, got the fish to the surface and recognized it immediately as an ugly, big mouth deepwater sculpin.
I shook the fish in the water, hoping it would either come off the hook or the vibration would attract a passing seal.No such luck, so I hauled it into the boat, grabbed my pliers with one hand and reached up on the fish's body with my right hand. I assumed I had the fish mid way up. I was wrong.
Then I felt a sharp sting and my right hand felt like I had stuck it in an oven. I've been hit by sculpins several times in my life, so I stuck my hand in the ice chest, which took some of the sting away. But hell, I was pretty sure my hand was going to swell up, so I went forward and started hauling up 100 feet of anchor rope, then pulled the Danforth unceremoniously aboard using my one good hand. Turned the boat for home, bought up some rpm and trimmed the panga up for a ride into the harbor on a small wave.
By the time I got to the boat ramp, my hand was very puffy but I got the boat on the trailer, headed up I-15, and treated the puncture with some hydrogen peroxide as soon as I got home. I Took an anti histamine for the itching, put a topical on the wound and took a nap. The swelling is gone now but I have a new boat rule: In addition to "no big live squid with tentacles on the boat: I now have a "no sculpin in the boat" policy.
Oh well, sometimes you gaff a few fish, and sometimes the fish gaff you.--Jim Forbes nursing a sore right hand on 06/06/2007.
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