has anybody come up with a technique to help reduce the chance of getting stung in the heart by a sting ray that jumps on the boat and attacks? Geezsh!!

GARY

No but I have experienced a VERY big Manta breach near my boat in open ocean. Scared the S**t out of me and got me thinking -- "what would I do if that thing landed on my tramp?"

It's my understanding that Mantas have a stinger of some kind on the very tip of their tail. So yes, that would be very scary indeed. First your boat busts to peices then you get a stinger in the eye.

I was looking at some underwater footage of a Blue Whale and thinking about the time that I crossed with one. Man, that was a nervous moment! We passed right over top of its tail area, after feathering up long enough to allow it to cross.
(we were on port tack so we were burdened with having to yield rights to the whale)

You can see the footage of a Blue Whale right here. Click on Channel Islands, then click on Mammals, then click on Baleen, then click on Blue Whale, then click on see movie, then choose the connection speed and type of viewer to use.
GARY

there was a story a couple years ago about a guy that hooked a barracuda. While reeling her in, the damn fish jumped into the boat and bit up some fishermen. That scares me more than stingrays.


During the tybee, you can look down into that crystal clear water and see our shark friends down there. Makes you keep your grip on the mainsheet a little tighter.

What about the fish in the northeast that are jumping into boats and knocking people unconcious. Some type of Chinese fish that were sold in the aquarium business and released. I believe they are called snakeheads, 20 to 50 lbs each. The motor noise and boat wake makes them jump. Some serious injuries have been reported.

Was that the Chinese Cat Fish?

Chinese Carp.
video snopes verification
GARY

I've had a humpback surface about 50m from my boat and on a grey early morning at a remote surf location with me only out, I had the biggest dolphin breach within a few meters of me and I $#!+ myself until I realised it was a dolphin but only a little less scary.

How about the whale that sunk a leaner 450 miles north of the Big Island in July?

Gary,

I've got just the show for you:

Okie Noodling

Saw it on the doc channel a few nights ago...very late at night. My wife thought it was a parody at first--it's a must see for a waterman like yourself. All about catchin' 60lb catfish with your bare hands...okie style.

http://www.okienoodling.com/film/

Kinda looks like something they'd do in Australia <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />