Rock Faller
11-16-2012, 08:49 AM
So last night I was fishing the same spot that I find myself about 80% of my fall outings. I got to my spot at 7pm and carefully climbed down the steep bank and started to fish the rock I perch myself on until an hour before high tide. I hooked up my 1st eel and casted a few dozen times and I feel the rapid chomps of a bluefish turning my 16” eel into a 6” cigar. I switch leaders and tie an old bluefish popper. I love eating bluefish and the owner of the property I fish likes it as well. I catch a couple of blues and throw them up to the dry cobblestones. It’s time to get off my rock and find a higher perch. As I start my way down the rock, my left Korker sandal decides to break off my boot and I am airborne. I am a large mammal, and when I fall, I fall hard. I smash the back of my head on the rock and land in the water in a seated position. My rod, my hat and headlamp are gone. So I get to my feet and grab my spare light from my pocket and try to assess the damage. Priority 1 is to find my rod, luckily it was inland and not in the drink. Picked up my headlamp and wet hat and carefully wade into shore and sit on a rock to catch my breath. My squash is pounding so I rub the back of my head and feel something wet and sticky, yup blood. Well I guess I better get out of here and see how bad my head wound is. The bank/rock hill I have to climb is not the easiest endeavor. Luckily I have a ¾” line anchored to a fence post at the top of the bank. I throw the 2 blues, my surf bag and rod up the bank and make my slow journey less one corker.
I grab my gear and head to the driveway, open my truck and drop off my gear. Get my fillet knife and rang the doorbell of my old friend the landowner. The old chap answers the door with a smile as he sees the 2 blues. Then he looks at me and sees the blood on my face and laughingly asks what happened this time. He opens the garage and we both walk to the back to his fillet table. My buddy takes a closer look at my head and said I need stitches. So I proceed to fillet the fish and then clean myself up.
On the way home I start feeling nauseous. I pass the exit to South County Hospital and circle back to get myself checked out. I figure the emergency room is going to be packed and to my surprise it is nearly empty. Here I am in my smelly waders and a sweaty hooded sweatshirt filling out paperwork. 10 minutes later a beautiful nurse is cleaning up my head and getting me ready for the doctor. She asks me a million questions for concussion evaluation. I passed with flying colors; my thick skull protected my brain. Less than an hour later I was back in my car w/11 stiches in my head on my way home. Kudos to SC Hospital.
My rod is ½ shorter, the tip broke during my fall, left Korker is swimming with Neptune, my head has a 3 x 3 bald spot covered by a gauze patch and I have a presentation to do for a client at 1:30 this afternoon.
Things I need to do before tonight’s fishing adventure:
1. Repair tiptop of rod
2. Buy new Korkers
3. Burn my new Surf Bag (bad luck)
4. Get another bottle of Advil
Have a great, safe weekend…
I grab my gear and head to the driveway, open my truck and drop off my gear. Get my fillet knife and rang the doorbell of my old friend the landowner. The old chap answers the door with a smile as he sees the 2 blues. Then he looks at me and sees the blood on my face and laughingly asks what happened this time. He opens the garage and we both walk to the back to his fillet table. My buddy takes a closer look at my head and said I need stitches. So I proceed to fillet the fish and then clean myself up.
On the way home I start feeling nauseous. I pass the exit to South County Hospital and circle back to get myself checked out. I figure the emergency room is going to be packed and to my surprise it is nearly empty. Here I am in my smelly waders and a sweaty hooded sweatshirt filling out paperwork. 10 minutes later a beautiful nurse is cleaning up my head and getting me ready for the doctor. She asks me a million questions for concussion evaluation. I passed with flying colors; my thick skull protected my brain. Less than an hour later I was back in my car w/11 stiches in my head on my way home. Kudos to SC Hospital.
My rod is ½ shorter, the tip broke during my fall, left Korker is swimming with Neptune, my head has a 3 x 3 bald spot covered by a gauze patch and I have a presentation to do for a client at 1:30 this afternoon.
Things I need to do before tonight’s fishing adventure:
1. Repair tiptop of rod
2. Buy new Korkers
3. Burn my new Surf Bag (bad luck)
4. Get another bottle of Advil
Have a great, safe weekend…