BajaNomad - Good news/Bad news

Good news/Bad news

tehag - 6-8-2011 at 05:23 PM

After a very lush springtime growth of alga (sargaso/kelp/seaweed) the warmer water is causing the normal annual dieback. The beaches get their share, but a lot of it drifts out into the Gulf and lingers in the form of paddies that are major fish magnets. Could mean a good dorado season if there are any around.

The aguamalas (Portuguese Man O War) on the other hand are a nuisance to swimmers and divers and are showing up early and in abundance. These are about double life-sized images. Kinda pretty, though, like blown glass.

Eli - 6-8-2011 at 05:40 PM

Even though I have no love for los auga malas, these pictures of them are beautiful.

Bob H - 6-8-2011 at 06:19 PM

Beautiful photos of these stingy suckers. Every time I see one it reminds me of a terrible experience I had with a big one while surfing in Miami back in the 60's when I was a kid. I was sitting on my longboard, waiting for the next set, and one man-o-war washed up on my board and wrapped around my crocth! I will never forget the pain man, ever!
:fire:

Phil C - 6-8-2011 at 08:10 PM

I also had an encounter with these in the gulf of mexico many years ago. They are nasty hurtfull. They have very long stringers that hang underneath and even a brush with these can be very painfull.

BajaBlanca - 6-8-2011 at 08:40 PM

there are soooooo many of those in miami, it is just ridiculous.

I had no idea that these blue things were the portuguese man o war, I found one on our beach years ago and it is still blue and still on the shelf downstairs....

my brother had one brush up against his leg in miami as a kid and i remember his pain still today, almost 50 years later.

I stepped on something on our beach today that had both my feet burning and itching at the same time. I washed under water and it went away. It was so uncomfortable for about 15 minutes ....

tiotomasbcs - 6-9-2011 at 06:34 AM

Your camera blowups captured the color beautifully! That's the enemy; soo beautiful but so Malo! Were lots of them in Los Barriles a week ago. Love the Mexican name. Tio

Marc - 6-12-2011 at 05:44 PM

We used to use vinegar or urine for it's sting. Now just rinsing with water is recommended.

vandenberg - 6-12-2011 at 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phil C
I also had an encounter with these in the gulf of mexico many years ago. They are nasty hurtfull. They have very long stringers that hang underneath and even a brush with these can be very painfull.

Those very long stringers,as you call them, ( really tentacles )
also come loose and drift freely in the current. Even by themselves they still hurt like hell when you swim into them.
I get welts and even blisters from them. Probably an allergy.
I found immediate rinsing with fresh water and an application of ammonia the best remedy.
Plenty of them around Loreto waters right now.

bacquito - 6-12-2011 at 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob H
Beautiful photos of these stingy suckers. Every time I see one it reminds me of a terrible experience I had with a big one while surfing in Miami back in the 60's when I was a kid. I was sitting on my longboard, waiting for the next set, and one man-o-war washed up on my board and wrapped around my crocth! I will never forget the pain man, ever!
:fire:

I was living on South Padre Island many years ago and I was showing some tourist the man-o-war shen I got some of the nematocyst in my nose-such pain and embarrassing!

krafty - 6-12-2011 at 07:09 PM

Read recently that the best thing for this kind of sting is apple cider vinegar-hope I never have to find out-

Roberto - 6-12-2011 at 07:41 PM

I've read on this board about people calling these animals Portuguese Man 'o War. Are you guys sure of this? I have been in these waters, even been stung (along with my kids) by these jellyfish, but I have a hard time associating them. I know that the Portuguese Man 'o War can be deadly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Man_o%27_War

And, BTW, vinegar makes things worse - not better.