Bullhead stabbing

gradall5200

gradall5200

Joined
Mar 12, 2006
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While fishing a small hole we somtimes fish for bullheads, Mostly for bait for flat heads in the river but sometimes for eatin too when the size is right. Anyway, I like everyone who has ever fished and gotten spiked from a cat I caught a 4 inch bullhead and was holding it in my hand showing it off (LOL) when he flopped out, and like an Idiot I went to grab him. His fin went deep into my thumb. Now Ive been hit probablly a hundred times in my life and everyone of them hurt like hell, now this one hurt ,but, now 36 hrs later my thumb is swelled up like a sausage. No pain just a huge thumb. Anyone else ever had this happen? Dont know if I have a piece of fin in my thumb or if its infected???? - Joel
 
Day and a half later? That's not good. I've been stuck by them plenty of times, usually quits hurting within an hour or two. I would have a Doc check it out. Those spines are nasty, I've been told you can get a staph infection from them.
 
The venom (yes, venom) is a protein and can be broken down by Adolph's Meat Tenderizer (enzyme), but not likely two days later. The catfish spines also carry germs and you may have a good start on an infection. Go see the Doc ASAP.
 
Ive been 'finned' a hundred times but never suffered for more than a few hours. I feel for you.

Once I caught a small blue cat. I was in my boat barefooted. He flipped off the hook and impaled my middle toe. He flopped vigoursly digging his side fin in. It hurt so bad that I layed in the bottom of the boat for several minutes.
 
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I got one shoved under my thumbnail wile cleaning some cats. Hurt so bad I passed out for a sec. Two days later the doc took my thumbnail off because of the infection. Bad germs on those spines.--KV
 
About 5 years ago I was flyfishing a creek and got a tiny hook in the joint of my finger. No big deal-just pulled it out and and continued fishing for the weekend. The day after I returned home it turned red and swelled to about three times normal size (looked like something in the cartoons) . Went to the doctor on my lunchbreak the next day and he told me I needed to see a specialist that day about surgery or I could lose the finger. I laid in the hospital for two days after surgery while they irrigated the finger with antibiotics. They think the bacteria was from the creek water on the hook.

Not meaning to panic you, but with that kind of instantaneous blow-up in swelling you need to see a physician at once, as you may have a raging infection that could spread into the bloodstream. Go today, or to the emergency room if needed.
 
gradall - give us an update when you get the chance. I hope you took everyone's advice and went to see a doc.
 
Well I didint take the advice. Sorry But not that this makes it ok but my wife is a er nurse and she usually makes me go to the er for most of my cuts bumps bruises and stabbings etc. But right after I posted this she made me take motrin for its anti- inflamatory factor and I soaked it in epson salt and by today you cant even tell it ever happend. I got lucky this time I know. I did talk to a doctor too who is a friend of my wife and he said wait a day or 2 and if all wasnt well he would give me an anti-biotic. Thanks for all the concerns truly appreciated.
 
All these poison catfish stories are making me queasy!
I guess I'm not as tough as I thought.
 
I've been spined by catfish in florida (gaff topsail cats I think they were called), spiny dogfish, striped bass, cunner, redfish (not red drum, a deep, coldwater fish like a perch) and too many others to recall.

The worst were spiny dogfish and redfish. I would always clean the site with bleach as soon as possible. I was always told that if you started seeing red lines from the place where you were spined then you have "fish poisoning" and need to get some medical treatment. I've seen a kid stuck by a spiny dogfish (a small sand shark) form a softball sized lump on his arm in a matter of minutes.

Clean any puncture wounds by fish immediately or as soon as possible. Beside the risk of fish poisoning you risk other infections including MRSA. I always have bleach on the boat but if not, even hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol wipes work for a quick fix.
 
buddy of mine got finned in his elbow by a cat while swimming with a stringer in his hand... when his elbow swelled up to the size of a softball, he went to the hospital. got blood poisoning and some nasty infection. he missed almost a week of work, and could have lost his hand if he waited any longer to see a doc. hopefully he learned his lesson.
 
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