tehag
Super Nomad
Posts: 1248
Registered: 1-8-2005
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Good news/Bad news
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.
Certainty is the child of ignorance, knowledge is the mother of doubt. Question everything!
http://bcsbirds.com |
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Eli
Super Nomad
Posts: 1471
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: L.B. Baja Sur
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Mood: Some times Observing, sometimes Oblivious.
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Even though I have no love for los auga malas, these pictures of them are beautiful.
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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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!
 
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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Phil C
Senior Nomad
Posts: 564
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
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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.
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13197
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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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 ....
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tiotomasbcs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1837
Registered: 7-30-2007
Location: El Pescadero
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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
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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Mood: Waiting
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We used to use vinegar or urine for it's sting. Now just rinsing with water is recommended.
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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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| 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.
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bacquito
Super Nomad
Posts: 1615
Registered: 3-6-2007
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Mood: jubilado
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| 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!
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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!
bacquito
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krafty
Super Nomad
Posts: 1052
Registered: 8-23-2010
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Read recently that the best thing for this kind of sting is apple cider vinegar-hope I never have to find out-
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
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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.
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