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The Sculpin Sting: Separating Myths from Reality

The California scorpionfish, more commonly know as sculpin, is a sight to behold at the end of your line.  But catching this ugly beauty comes with a hidden danger: Its venomous spines can deliver a nasty sting. While the sting is rarely fatal, it can be incredibly painful, leading to swelling, nausea, and even temporary paralysis.

In the wake of a scorpionfish encounter, it’s easy to fall prey to misinformation and panic. Fear not, intrepid anglers! This blog post is here to debunk some of the most common myths surrounding sculpin stings and provide you with the real deal on treatment.

Sculpin

Myth #1: You need to pee on the sting.

This age-old adage is as useless as it is unsanitary. Urine does not neutralize the venom of a California scorpionfish sting. In fact, it may even irritate the wound further. So, spare yourself the embarrassment and stick to more effective methods.

Myth #2: Apply heat to the sting.

Heat is a big no-no when it comes to sculpin stings. Applying heat will only worsen the pain and swelling. Remember, the venom is protein-based, and heat can actually cook the proteins, making them more damaging.

Myth #3: Drink alcohol to numb the pain.

Alcohol may dull the pain temporarily, but it can also thin your blood, increasing the risk of bleeding and infection. Plus, alcohol impairs your judgment, which is not ideal in a potentially dangerous situation.

So, what should you do if you get stung by a California scorpionfish?

  1. Stay calm. Panicking will only worsen the situation.
  2. Remove any spines from the wound. Use tweezers or a credit card to carefully remove any embedded spines.
  3. Immerse the stung area in hot (not scalding) water. This can help to ease the pain and swelling.
  4. Seek medical attention. Even if the sting seems mild, it’s always best to get checked out by a doctor to rule out any serious complications.
Sculpin

Bonus tip: I fishing on a sportboat let the crew handle your fish.  They have plenty of experience in dealing with these critters.

Remember, knowledge is power, especially when it comes to treating marine stings. By separating fact from fiction, you can ensure that your next encounter with a sculpin is nothing more than a pile of fillets for your next batch of fish tacos.  Yes, they are excellent table fare!

Additional tips for preventing scorpionfish stings:

  • Be aware of your surroundings. Other anglers on the boat may not know the dangers posed by a sculpin “stick.”
  • Don’t touch any fish you can’t identify.
  • Be careful walking around fish sacks filled with sculpin.  The spines are still poisonous even when the fish are dead.

By following these tips, you can minimize your risk of getting stung by a California scorpionfish and enjoy your fishing with peace of mind.

I hope this blog post has been helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.

wxdunn

View Comments

  • Today I got stung by one of these nasty creatures.
    I have been fishing for 50 years and for many years have removed my own hook from Sculpin when the crew are busy doing the same for others.
    I hooked a small one and told my son in law next too me, this one looks dangerous as it was obviously angry.
    It caught me on my pinky knuckle. I can say I experienced the most horrific, intense, stinging pain that encompassed my entire hand and wrist for about 2 hours. My hand and lower arm was for all intensive and purposes paralyzed for most that time. Let me repeat the worst pain I think I have ever felt. My entire hand is now swollen to twice its normal size.
    I have removed the hook from hundreds of these things, often for other less experienced fisherman.
    Take it from me DONT DO IT!! .
    The crew member showed me is swollen hand from 5 days ago.
    Go ahead. If you want to experience the worst pain of your life I DARE YOU!!
    I will never touch of these things again!!

  • I got stuck years ago! When I would take anyone fishing off the coast of San Diego it was known that when I catch a sculpin you open my fish cooler, and when you caught a sculpin, I would open your fish cooler. This lessened the chances of getting stuck by one! My buddy caught one once and I went to open his cooler, but he flung it that way before the cooler was open! It's spine stuck me in the vein in my thumb and the venom IMMEDIATELY started shooting up my arm and was sooooo painful! I went to the front of the boat and laid with my arm in my refreshment cooler full of ice with slight relief. That pain lasted for about 5 hours, but I refused to go back to the boat launch! Anyone who has ever gone out into the ocean fishing knows the time and cost of going out for a day of ocean fishing! I refused! My lines were still in the water and every time the reel would start clicking I would grab the rod, set the hook and reel the fish in by putting the end of the rod between my legs, and holding the rod on top of my ailing arm and reeling with my good hand! Then I would re-bait and let the line back out. LOOOONNNNNGGGGGG day! Not going to let a sting ruin the day or my wallet! I inquired about relief for the pain later to different entities and was told not even Morphine would take away that excruciating pain! After that when we caught Sculpin, we cut all of their fins off before even attempting to put them in a cooler!

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