A Humbling Experience

[Tom Smedley]

I had a humbling experience last weekend. It was one that got me to thinking.

In the fresh water springs we always feed Vienna sausages to blue gill and American eels. One of my favorite teachings and warnings is “Salt water fish got teeth!

Last Sunday I was victim to an unprovoked attack by a toadfish. We were on the Hovercraft at Panama City Beach. Msquare and I had been out on the sand and were approaching the bow of the LCAC when I felt a sharp pain on my right thumb. I looked down at a 10 to 12 inch toadfish that was actually out of his hole and squaring off at me. My thumb leaked green stuff. MSquare gave me a concerned “Are you OK?” sign but I was still kind of dazed.

The most disconcerting thing about this whole incident was that it happened so quickly that there is no way I could have prevented it. I have always heard that you will never see the shark that bites you but never figured that my first marine bite would be – of all creatures – a toadfish.

Uncle Ricky says that I am lucky that he took one chomp and turned loose. Sometimes they hang on. All I know is that I still have scabs on my thumb.

Go figure!

 

[Hetland]

You are lucky. I had an 8" toadfish turn a 2/0 circle into a 2/0 needle (straightened it out) one time at Cedar Point.

 

[mike_s]

Were these the same gloves that you used to feed sausages to freshwater fish on previous dives?

might have had some 'juice' in them that the fish sensed? (just an idea).



btw.... since I've never given a dental exam to a toadfish, I couldn't remember exactly what 'teeth arrangement' it had.

a google search found these two images..... I guess I'll respect their "bite" a little more now.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Yikes! Those Toadfish have a lot of teeth Mike!

Glad they were able to keep you from bleeding out Tom...

 

[Tom Smedley]

I wasn't wearing gloves. Just put my knuckles down on the bare metal platform and must have had my thumb extended. He was probably in a hole and thought my thumb was a baitfish.

 

[Hetland]

You should change your sig:

Do not meddle in the affairs of toadfish, for your fingers are crunchy and taste good with ketchup

 

[Tom Smedley]

Now that's a good one. Thanks!!!

You should change your sig:

Do not meddle in the affairs of toadfish, for your fingers are crunchy and taste good with ketchup

 

[Flightlead]

Just put my knuckles down on the bare metal platform and must have had my thumb extended.

duh, there's your problem. Flashing gang signs at the fish!

l8r homey!

 

[Rick Murchison]

Toadfish have been known to break finger bones. They crush crustaceans & shellfish & eat 'em in their day-to-day occupations. Their "normal" treatment of an intruder is two to four crushing bites with machine-gun rapidity before a short retreat and stand-off. When they can't back up they're liable to bite & hang on.
You were lucky
Rick

 

[SCUBAJENNIFER]

You should change your sig:

Do not meddle in the affairs of toadfish, for your fingers are crunchy and taste good with ketchup