Rock Fish Spines

Ouch!  Got stuck with a rock fish dorsal spine today while removing a hook.  Probably was a quillback.  With all the rock fish I've caught this was the first stick and it was very shallow.  It barely drew any blood at all.  But, damn did it hurt!  For about 30 minutes it felt like someone was sticking a needle into my finger.  It swelled up slightly and got very warm.  The whole reaction lasted about an hour.  Now, 6 hours later, it feels like nothing happened. 

Hopefully, it won't turn black and fall off.

I took a quill once... whole stinking arm went numb for the better part of a couple hours. 

My fingers/joints would get infected and swollen something fierce from 'but/ling/rock...gotta get the digits cleaned up and disinfected from even minor stuff.  Bottom fish carry some nasty stuff in their slime.

My fingers/joints would get infected and swollen something fierce from 'but/ling/rock...gotta get the digits cleaned up and disinfected from even minor stuff.  Bottom fish carry some nasty stuff in their slime.

Infection is always a concern.  This was an obvious venom as the effects were instantaneous.

Everything you ever wanted to know about rock fish spines and venom: http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=kt8z09n9rg&brand=calisphere&doc.view=entire_text

I had a knuckle poked by a SM Bass spine 2 Fridays ago.  The following day it was swollen and sore. 

I did the smart thing, cut it open a little with my dirty fishing knife and squeezed the evil juices out.

Seems fine now.

Be careful of rockfish spines. From what I have witnessed everyone reacts differently. I have been poked more times than I can count and felt no real effects. To the point that I have had a spine break off in my finger and be lodged for several weeks before it finally worked itself out.
I have also had co workers that have undergone surgery due to rock fish stings.

For the most part treat it like you would any other cut and if you have prolonged redness or swelling get it checked out. I believe the bacteria that can be introduced during the puncture is just as harmful if not more. If you get poked let it bleed a bit and then clean it out really well and keep an eye on it.

Those little bastards are evil. Be careful.

Those little bastards are evil. Be careful.

No doubt. All the more reason to bonk em!

Those little bastards are evil. Be careful.

No doubt. All the more reason to bonk em!

I'd love to, but no retention of rockfish in Puget Sound.

  Speaking of "bonkers".If anyone is interested in an ORC 2012 bonker custom made from cedar ( I have 5 left) or driftwood (2 left) let me know and I'll get you one .

 While we were cleaning our catch last week I got stuck with a rockfish spine and I let everyone know how much that hurt! Our fishing guide promptly sliced open the eyeball of the fish and told me to put my wound in the clear fluid coming out. Within seconds the pain diminished and two to three minutes latter, even when pushing on the wound I couldn't tell that I had been stuck. Talk about natural medicine....? 

While we were cleaning our catch last week I got stuck with a rockfish spine and I let everyone know how much that hurt! Our fishing guide promptly sliced open the eyeball of the fish and told me to put my wound in the clear fluid coming out. Within seconds the pain diminished and two to three minutes latter, even when pushing on the wound I couldn't tell that I had been stuck. Talk about natural medicine....?

Dang I wish I'd known that when I got stuck by a quillback!
It made my entire arm ache for a day.

-Spot-

Remember that bass kayak fishing dude who stuck the fish hook into his thigh to demonstrate how to safely and easily remove it using the string trick?  I think SteveMIC should take one for the team and demonstrate the rockfish quill vitreous fluid cure.  We need a volunteer cameraman.  Make sure it's a real good quill stick with some serious meat penetration or someone on the net will cry foul.

Remember that bass kayak fishing dude who stuck the fish hook into his thigh to demonstrate how to safely and easily remove it using the string trick?  I think SteveMIC should take one for the team and demonstrate the rockfish quill vitreous fluid cure.  We need a volunteer cameraman.  Make sure it's a real good quill stick with some serious meat penetration or someone on the net will cry foul.