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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Ay Caramba!
I suppose this story starts with a brief encounter I had with a fellow fisherman at Asuncion. He was heading home after his son had managed to step on
a stingray at Coyote Estero. We stood in front of the hotel measuring one another as men often do and I remember thinking rather contemptuously that
this was an obviously inexperienced baja traveler
Four days later we were on the salt flats of Laguna Bocana. The tide was receding nicely as I parked our rig next to a mangrove island with a deep
channel on the far side that looked promising. The water was crystal clear. I waded thigh deep scouting out the likely sand flats for halibut.
Meanwhile Alex pursued blue crabs with a landing net, hoping to catch dinner
The Crab Catcher
Having made a complete circle I returned to the vehicle and rigged us up for halibut. We worked our way along the roots of the mangroves to the main
channel on the far side of the island. Casting Kastmasters into the current I managed to hook quite a few bonefish which were really thrilling on the
light tackle.
Meanwhile Alex had managed to snag a butterfly ray in the wing which kept him occupied for quite some time. He wanted it photographed and so I made my
way to shore, camera in hand. As we got it to shore I saw what appeared to be fountains of water shooting up from it’s head. We bent over to look more
closely. What we saw was amazing. There was a large opening above each eyeball. With each breath the ray sucked in water from somewhere below and
squirted it out through it’s eyes. The water shot straight up and to the side from each eye giving it a sinister, almost diabolical look.
Back to fishing. The water had really dropped by now and the small baylet we had traversed was now a mudflat all the way to the channel. Good!, I
thought to myself. The fish should all be off the flats and concentrated in the channel. I remember shuffling along in the eelgrass (always shuffle –
that scares the rays) wondering how effective that’s going to be as I was on top of the grass. Moving along and casting I hooked a nice flattie of
about 8-10 lbs and managed to farm it during the landing. Moving further along I felt something wiggling under my sandals and instinctively jumped.
Another ray, I told Alex. A few more steps and I’m on another ray. I jumped up and came down on yet another ray. This one really made me nervous.
Again, I leaped with my right foot and, hoping to avoid contact, I tried to minimize my footprint by coming down with the heel. The foot slid down the
sandals exposing the uncovered heel and I came down full force on still another ray.
Butterfly Ray
The pain, my friends, was unbelievable. It felt as though a sharp dagger had been thrust into me. This was followed by a tearing sensation. The poor
beast had lodged it’s spine in me and was now trying to escape. I could sense the flapping of it’s wings as the barb tore flesh during this whole
sequence of events. At this point in time I let out a scream and threw my rod into the water (rusted reel bearings be damned) which scared Alex half
to death.
The pain did not diminish from the moment of impact. I could not tell whether the fish was still attached to me, or the spine was left in the heel, or
whatever. Alex jumped up and screamed as well having stepped on one, but luckily it didn’t draw flesh. The pain was so great that I couldn’t put
weight on that leg. I lay down on my side trying to see the cause of it all. The examination revealed nothing extraordinary but the pain remained
unabated.
It was a good 200 yds to the truck. Limping on one leg I cursed and swore the entire way. What now? My mind raced trying to remember the posts on
stingrays. Ah yes, it was coming back to me. I had to either pee on it or submerge it in boiling water. Pee on it? What kind of advice is that? I
couldn’t do it even if I had to. I was in a mild state of shock for crissake. Then I rememberd: that’s for jellyfish.
We got back to the truck and Alex set the water to boil. After the water reached a temperature I could barely tolerate I placed my foot into the pot.
No change. I took it out and back in several times without any change whatsoever. By now the side of my leg and the groin area started to feel numb. I
wondered just what kind of toxins were in that barb. Then I noticed that the tip of my nose was also feeling numb. I concluded that it was probably
just a mild state of shock I was experiencing.
The hell with home remedies, I thought, and decided to get professional help. In the ensuing confusion Alex packed the stove by grabbing the grate
with his hands and burned his fingers badly. He needed ice right away or they would blister. “It’s nothing, dad”, he told me but I knew better.
We raced across the salt flats to Abreojos, my injured foot on the accelerator pedal. I grit my teeth and clenched the steering wheel periodically to
deal with the mounting pain.
You’re soft, you old fool – I told myself. Your cushy desk job has made you soft. Where’s that legendary pain tolerance of your forefathers? Look,
your 11 year old son shows more courage and dignity than you. Suck it up, for goshsakes!
Several well placed questions a Abreojos got us to the clinic. Using my left leg and right toes I limped into the office and proceeded to lay on the
table. The doctor came in, stinking of gin (sorry amigos. Four solid weeks of repeated Beatle songs has taken it’s toll on me) and, after exchanging
pleasantries, was told I’d need one shot in the foot, another in the gluteus maximus (“culo” – was an inaccurate term, he said), and some pills. Ninny
that I am, I asked him if the shots will hurt. A lot less than the sting, was the answer. Alex later recalled that he lifted the loose flesh and
inserted the needle into the opening. I felt a mild sting.
A Sore Foot
Ahhhh! Miraculously, the relief was almost instantaneous. Within a minute all the pain was virtually gone.
I told the doctor about Alex’s burn and asked him for ice. The man examined his hand, gave him some pills, and assured me that his skin would be fine.
Within hours the blister started to appear. The skin died in the next few days of second degree burns.
I was so overjoyed at the relief that I paid the doctor twice what he charged. He led us to a motel where I convalesced for a day, watching TV,
sleeping, and reading a book about Frederick the Great which I found on the shelf.
Gradually I relaxed and a peculiar smile slowly spread across my face. “Thank you, baja”, I thought to myself, “Once again, thank you.”
A bit later, “ Should I tell them about this? Will they understand?”, I asked. “They’ll think you’re mad.”, came the response.
The End
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
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Always knew those stingrays could be real painful - but never understood how much so until now. Hope to never meet up with one.
This is an excellent story, Igor, and I love the final words.
You and Alex have some good Baja adventures together - and this is another you'll always remember. I had to laugh at your Beatles remark - brought a
good visual of you after a month of listening to Rocky Raccoon, et al. That photo of Alex - The Crab Catcher - is priceless!
Thank you much for sharing this unusual adventure with us.
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3810
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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Great story! I give you huge credit for being able to hold it all together while being in such pain. You are a good model for your son.
I'm glad you shared this experience with us. I've never been hit, but my turn is coming someday .
P<*)))><
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Whew
Glad that you survived, if only barely!
The trick with the hot water works but is not instantaneous. It usually takes over an hour for the pain to subside and you have to leave your foot
submerged, only taking it out to take cool water out and add more hot water. It sounds like you really got the barb in deep.
Your story reminds me once again that the difference between an ordeal and an adventure is attitude....you rock!
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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Great story.
Just one question.....................what was so great about Frederick the Great?
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BMG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1776
Registered: 6-10-2007
Location: La Paz / Bahia Asunci�n / Away from home
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OUCH!
I can agree that it is indeed painful getting barbed by a stingray. I was fishing in the shallow water on the other side of the Sea when I plopped
down on one. He nailed me between my toes. Jumping straight up in water isn't that easy but I did a pretty good high jump. Unfortunately, my timing
wasn't so great because I landed on him again as he was trying to flee. By then he may have had more time to plan his next thrust as he got me in the
ankle on the other foot.
I didn't toss my pole, instead I used it as a probe in front of me to drive off any more rays (and to keep my balance) as I hobbled/trotted to shore.
My father-in-law said, "Esteep" (after 30+ years of being his son-in-law, he still can't pronounce Steve.) "Pee on it!' Me, "NO." Him, "Let me pee on
it!!" Me, "Hell, no." I was glad to know that I could still laugh while in agony.
The next 45 minutes or so were painful. I was sure amputation was the only solution. Then after a couple of Advils and a few Pacificos, the pain
vanished. It was still a little painful to touch and a little swollen but I could live with that. I did keep up the Pacifico medication a bit longer.
I do find it an embarrassment today to tell the story and then have to show the itsy-bitsy scar on my ankle (none on my toes.) Even my photos of the
incident make it look no worse than an inflamed pimple. While I am not glad that Skipjack went through the same ordeal, I am happy that we both
survived and agree in the re-telling about the horrific pain we endured. From now on, it's shuffle-shuffle-shuffle, not step-step-step.
I think the world is run by C- students.
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Thanks, soulpatch. I was afraid this story would invite people to accuse me of being a thoughtless parent.
Hook, it was the army he put together. Apparently the miliary units were much looser until he came along. The way units now 'move as one' was
something he drilled his men to be like. All that precise and synchronous saluting and marching that men are trained the world over in boot camp seem
to have their roots in Frederick the Great (actually his father).
Stingray stings are real common in baja. This report says 1500/yr. Hard to believe. The motel manager at Abreojos had been hit 3 times and showed me
her scars. I'm surprised nobody has ever reported anything like this on nomads. It's nothing to brag about, I guess.
http://www.clubcruceros.org/StingrayInjuries.html
Thank you for the link, Natalie Ann. It's very informative.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Mood: In love!
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Now you know why I am an Aridologist! Ouch. 
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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The barb is covered by a thin sheath that stays behind. Our local doc hits you with a very large tetinus shot in the butt no matter who you are, what
the wound looks like, what your story is about "I just got a shot last month" thing. He has told me privately what he has seen after tetinus does
it's thing. I do not believe in the shuffle thing because I've seen so many people with wounds on the ankle sometimes caused after the shuffle, the
touch, the contact in or on the soft sand at the shore. You're a great dad Igor and you'll weather many more punctures, scrapes and tears and always
come out a winner.
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amir
Senior Nomad
Posts: 559
Registered: 5-4-2007
Location: Todos Santos, BCS
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Mood: chiropractic
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Great story, and the title IS perfect: Ay Caramba!
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bajaboolie
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 9-24-2007
Location: Aptos, CA/Mulege
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Wow, I was mesmerized! Thanks for sharing...interesting to hear a first hand account!
Bajaboolie
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bajadogs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1066
Registered: 8-28-2006
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Shuffling feet is an asnswer, but when you dive head first and swim out a bit, then come back to shore, your foot has to come down somewhere. After
being nailed by a stingray I expect them to be under my feet all the time. Skipjack, I know that pain, it changes you.
When I was nailed I boiled my foot, took 4 children's motrin and 2 coronas. I woke up 2 hours later burning in the 104 degree sunshine with waves
lapping at my feet. Your description of the pain is right on. It was like an electric, rusty nail being pushed into me and it got worse from there!
I'm glad it wasn't your boy who was nailed.
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Paula
Super Nomad
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
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Igor, that was a great story!! And there is no remedy for pain as sure as turning it into a funny adventure, and finding all the sweetness of it.
The thing I missed, even in skimming back through, is why the band-aid on Alex's upper lip?
And of course you know that all of this pain could have been avoided if you'd just gone riding in San Fancisco de la Sierra-- no danger in being on a
mule on the edge of a cliff
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Whistler, I think the motel owner told me about the surfer you mentioned. She said he kind of shrugged it off and didn't really follow the doc's
advise. And no infection.
I've had my eye on those Marlwalkers for some time now and perhaps now is the time to finally get one. I used to wade with Hodgman's a long time ago
for this very reason. I don't remember why I stopped.
BTW the motel lady knows you well and had good things to say. I knew you were out of town and didn't try looking you up.
Paula, the bandaid moustache isn't part of the story but it was taken at the motel. Hamming it up. He can't wait to get body hair. He proudly
displayed his first pimple last week. I don't remember being particularly proud of that in my day.
Yes, I was really grateful it happened to me instead of him. I actually thought of that right after it happened. We both had sandals with really thick
rubber on bottom and sides that was impermeable to a stinger. I thought that I was stung because I stepped down heel first as in the story but the
motel lady showed me her scars on top of her foot where the ankle meets the foot. No sandal could protect you from that.
The injured area bled the first night. After that a red area appeared around the wound that stayed for about three weeks. Some of the flesh inside
died and was replaced. All as the doctor had predicted.
What did I learn? I've stepped on hundrds of those small rays over the years. They're all over the bottom at San Lucas Cove. There's a small wiggle
underfoot and they're gone. After a while I started to wonder whether they had any stingers at all. Perhaps they were a different type, I thought. Now
I know better.
One last thing. I wasn't putting on a happy face on a tragedy. I really believe what I wrote. My years of baja travel has convinced me that this is
the best it has to offer. I'm not going to try to convince anyone of that, however.
[Edited on 11-11-2007 by Skipjack Joe]
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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I sometimes walk the shallows here looking for halibut. I also snorkle that same area -- I'm now sure that many of the things I think are the
dangerous bullseye rays are often lizard fish and tiger eels, both squirmy, quick and harmless. Our local net fishermen (the hated pirates) cause a
problem here -- they clean their haul right at the water's edge, discard the carcasses that attract hundreds of rays and other fish -- it's also our
swimming beach, our boat launch area.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Stingrays are the scourge of baja, one of the really unfortunate owies that are common. This IS an important topic especially for newbies because they
unknowingly run into the water at places like BOLA and get hurt, sometimes ruining their holidays. Mi esposo Juan ALWAYS stnds at the waters edge and
watches, then slowly wades in shuffling watching for these diabolic critters and sometimes dunks his head underwater with a snorkel to see if he sees
any of those telltale eyes protruding from the sand...then and only then, when he is sure there aren't any, he gives me the all clear to come in. This
is one of my favorite things about the Asuncon area...because no one is allowed to clean fish or dump spent caracol shells at the beaches, they are
generally free of stingrays. whew...but they can be anywhere. One must be extremely careful. Look before you leap!
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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Been swimming in Baja, both on the Pacific and Cortez side, for over 50 years and the shuffle method has ALWAYS worked for me----never been hit (yet)
But, keep your eyes open, like Shari says, and watch for the buggers before you take your next step-----they don't always take off when you shuffle.
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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There are parts of baja that are far more dangerous than others. All the lagoons from Mag Bay to Pt Eugenia are loaded with stingrays. For some reason
Laguna Manuela seems to have far less.
The shuffle really helps a lot, I think. But I wouldn't rely on it completely in the above waters. It's not that it doesn't work. It's just that
things happen. You loose your balance and stumble to recover. You need to step over a clump of eelgrass. A boat comes by and you decide you don't want
to be wet up to your neck and jump up.
I doubt if anyone could fish those water for even 5 years using the shuffle technique without getting hit. Very few people fish that water wading. The
pangueros just wade deep enough to launch and they're off.
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wsdunc
Nomad
Posts: 179
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: So Cal
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Mood: Upbeat
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Summer of 2003 I camped at Punta Chivato with my wife and the boys (and a boy cousin). This meant me and 5 folks that had never been to Baja before.
But they knew I had a lot of Baja experience and trusted me to lead them. When we arrived at Punta Chivato it was obvious there were LOTS of rays
around. I am not sure if it was some kind of spawning behaviour, but there were literally hundreds (thousands?) of rays. They lay in a blanket
starting 2 feet from shore and ending maybe 15 ft from shore, Just shuffling out would send at least 6 or 8 scurrying away. It was really an amzing
sight. I told veryone in the party about the problem, and showed them how to shuffle out, how to look out for the rays etc. I also said that it was
a sure thing that someone was going to get spined during our trip. Well you know how it goes, a few days later I was wading out with my youngest
son, mask and fins in hand. It is possible that I wasn't paying much attention, because WHAM, I stepped on a ray who retaliated by spining me in the
top of the foot. To this day my wife and son say this happened because I was watching the college age gringas next to us swimming and sunbathing
topless.
I hopped to the beach, cussing not so quietly under my breath. But hot water and time fixed things up pretty well, although the spot probably stayed
sore for a month. But I was never too worried about it.
On the other hand, while camping on an isolated east cape beach in the 90s I snorkled through the tentacles of one of the small blue floating
jellyfish. These tentacles will light you right up! I made it to shore, but the pain was remarkable. I wasn't sure if I was going to go into shock
and die or what, but it was enough to worry me. I figure we were at least 2 hours from a town with a doctor, and probably more than 4 from a
hospital. Well since I'm writing this obviously the pain went away after a few hours. I was interested enough to learn what to do about jellyfish
stings, so when my wife was stung a few years later we wiped of the poison sacs left on her, got some vineager and made her better pretty quickly,
although she did have lips like Angelina Jolie for a while.
But given the choice between a sting ray spine in the foot, and a serious brush with a jellyfish, I say take the spine. In my experience it doesn't
hurt nearly as much.
I assume that the Crocodile Hunter would disagree with this position.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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Mood: mellow
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Ammonia, vinegar and pee. Best antidote against jelly fish stings and in that order.
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