We do a lot of wading on South Andros. We’re really lucky in that we have virtually endless amounts of hard bottomed flats just begging to be walked across. Stalking bonefish on foot is about as fun as it gets, and if conditions allow, many of our guests spend a good amount of their trip out of the boat.
While some of our flats are just what you might picture – long, white sandy, barren looking flats that you could probably walk barefoot across, the majority of our flats have much more character – limestone, turtle grass, conch shells, etc.
Therefore, protecting your feet is really important. That’s why we always recommend our guests wear good quality wading boots whenever fishing on foot. We’re not talking flip flops, keens, chacos, crocs, water shoes, and so on.. We’re talking hard soled, closed toed, ankle supporting, boots. Something like these, these, or these.
Being uncomfortable can sour a good day of fishing, and a good pair of wading boots is another piece of the puzzle.
I had a stonefish on the coast of Mombasa, Kenya,
pierce its spiny fork right through my foot about
30 years ago. A friend in our group got me to lie
down, elevate the foot and squeezed lemon and
lime juice onto it, (Let’s hear it for a Corona with
a slice for a Baptist pastor!) until the fiery flame
subsided. I like what you said about “good, not pretty.”
That’s hard core Chuck, great story! Guess we’ll have to carry a Corona and lime with us from now on (only if you’re going to twist our arm about it). Hope all is well, and as always, thanks for the input!
Stonefish venom can be lethal if not treated with anti-venom.
If Mr French treated his injury with citrus juice, it is VERY unlikely he was nailed by a stonefish..
Yours for more honesty on the web