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Random Quote: The only thing man has learned from history is that man does not learn from history.
Went out 20 miles offshore today, seas a little choppy, and made the run a bit longer than normal. Caught bait at 9 mile, and headed out to catch some Dolphin again (as last weekend). Unfortunately, we only lasted about twenty minutes, (3 Cudas, and one Bonito), before I ran the hook from the kingfish rig throught the center of my thumb fingernail, and out the bottom... thus ending the fishing trip, and sending me to the ER.
We ran back in, and stopped about 9 mile to due to cell service, and noticed a lot of smoke in the distance... obviously not the local dredging machine that has been running lately. Cranked on the radio and heard the Coast Gaurd talking about the boat on fire outside of St. Augustine... And headed out to see if we could aid, trying to be a good samaratan. Turns out it was a private Express of some kinda, i couldn't tell with the smoke billowing away, but probably in the neighborhood of 35-40'. Pulled out the cell phone for a quick picture, so it's not the best quality.
When we stopped, The boat just to the right of the one on fire had picked up all the passengers. They said all was ok, and we headed on... I'm not sure what caused the fire, maybe some of the St. Augustine guys here on THT will know a bit more...
I have seen and been victim to numerous hook injuries.....but how did you get one through your thumb nail.....God that had to hurt! I second pirates' comment - you showed a lot of class pulling up and seeing if you could help the other boat when you could have just hauled ass to the dock with your situation.
I know the feeling about the hooks toooooo well. This is what happened to me last year as a result of a large bait fish kicking loose at the wrong time. I was 32 miles out at the time, by myself. Soaked it in salt water for a few minutes and then headed to the dock. Took the picture to be sure I would remember.....
MAN, That made my skin crawl just looking at the picture...
__________________ - Chris
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
I had hooked it throught the nail trying to dehook a barracuda. I grabbed the treble hook on the stinger rig, and the dehooker slipped loose when I tried to yank it out. The hook directly above on the Kingfish rig went straight through the thumb. I brought my camera to take a picture, but when I was in the ER, I forgot about it, as they began to shoot novacaine into my thumb. My thumb had a bandaid on it that I put there to protect my wound the same thumb for the previous weekend, (I was holding the spool of a conventional while trolling, and the fish ripped the line out, burning my thumb).
Fishin Place, your treble wounds are impressive. I bet that would have been very painful as well. I'm right handed, withouth that opposeable thumb, I'm just SOL for a while.
I tried to recreate the picture to the best of my ability about 5 minutes ago, so here is the picture, it has been cleaned as such, as it happened about 24 hrs ago now.
The owner took delivery of the boat about 3 Weeks ago. From reading other post and seems they had issues shutting off the fuel after the fire broke out. Seems at one point they thought the fire was under control. Everyone was okay, several boats in the area came to the rescue. I just saw the boat a few weeks ago at Commanche Island.
These pictures were taken by a charter Capt out of St Augustine. Paul on the 'Real Deal'
Here is a couple more taken by a fisherman posted on another forum.
About a half dozen boats were there when I went by. Didn't stay long...
Didn't realize it was such a new boat, (or new looking). I would have guessed early 80's based on the boat I saw, of course, at that point, there was only a hull left.
Boat Fire off St. Augustine 
If you did how about a PM.. 
