In simple terms, it happens when you travel and when your brain and your inner ear perceive movement don’t match up. Your brain gets confused because your inner ear senses motion but your eyes are telling you that there is no movement. It is a battle of the senses which can result in dizziness, nausea, sweating, headache, cold sweats and vomiting.

It can happen to anyone, luckily many factors and common symptoms can be easily controlled, prevented and treated. Your dream fishing trip can become a nightmare if the boat’s motion causes you to become seasick.

In order to prevent or at least reduce motion sickness unpleasant effects, we have collected few tips about popular methods and remedies used to prevent seasickness. Keep in mind that what works for you may not work for others and it’s good to be prepared with a few options, just in case. Also keep in mind that this information is not intended to be a substitute or replacement for any medical treatment. Please seek the advice of a healthcare professional for your specific health concerns.

This patch is proven as the most successful commercial seasickness medication on the market.
The patch, sold under the brand name Transderm Scōp, contains the drug Scopolamine. Worn behind the ear, it works similarly to antihistamines (Bonine, Dramamine), by interfering with the communication between nerves and the part of the brain that controls vomiting. But it’s longer-lasting than antihistamines, releasing a steady dose of medication over three days. Apply the patch at least four hours before travel, or even better – night before fishing trip.

If you didn’t used it earlier, try using one at home first. You don’t want to find out that you have an adverse reaction to this stuff when you’re several miles out at sea.

Most of the medications work by counteracting the effect of chemicals released by the brain during seasickness. Your doctor could tell you more about Antihistamines, but what you need to know is that these drugs block the signals at some of the areas in the brain that control nausea and vomiting. Talk to you doctor about which medications are best for you, as you may be limited by other medications you are taking.

Bonine is the 2nd best thing to use (after Scopolamine patches), Dramamine is also popular (try to find less drowsy formula), also you can use Benadryl, Antivert, Gravol, Marazine…

Take the recommended dose night before fishing tour and another dose at least an hour before trip.

Duration:
Bonine 6-12 hr
Dramamine 4-6 hr
Gravol 6 hr
Antivert 6-12 hr

Remember that the most common side effect of taking Bonine and other pills is drowsiness, and alcohol will exacerbate this.

Rizatriptan is for the people who experience both motion sickness and migraines. Rizatriptan is the only migraine medication specifically shown to reduce motion sickness or lessened motion-sickness symptoms in 87 percent of patients with migraines. The medication may fend off nausea by regulating serotonin, which is thought to be linked to migraine-related pain. Take the recommended dose about two hours before travel.

People who prefer an herbal remedy can use natural Ginger root. This spicy root aids digestion, which alleviates nausea associated with motion sickness. Ginger root can be consumed in any shape of form including ginger powder, pills, capsules, ginger candy, syrup, tea, or ginger ale. Find and buy it in more forms if you can, but make sure that is natural.

Note: Ginger can thin the blood, so consult your doctor first if you’re on blood-pressure medication.

Ship crew members and seasoned scuba divers swear that eating green apples or artificial orange and citrus candy helps with nausea. Individual results may vary, of course.

Many people like acupressure as natural remedy for avoiding motion sickness. According to Chinese medicine, acupressure can balance the flow of energy in the body, or chi, and nausea is a sign of disharmony of chi. Use your thumb to press your inner arm three finger widths (about two inches) down from your wrist crease. Hold for a few minutes, until symptoms subside. 

For a hands-free option, try the Sea-Band motion-sickness wristband ($10, sea-band.com). These bands are small cotton braces that are worn around your wrists, with a round stud that presses against the inside of your wrist, emulating acupressure to relieve nausea. You can find simple pressure bands like Sea-Band and Acuband at your local drug store, or order them from online stores such as Amazon.

Note: Acupressure has been reported to be effective for motion sickness in some studies, but other studies have failed to show a benefit.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to the symptoms once when you are on the sea. Many of them are very logic, but we will mention them anyway:

– Avoid spicy, heavy, fatty, greasy food and large meals
– Avoid food with high level of salt and sugar

Night before the tour take a light meal, the best foods are light and bland; saltine crackers, bagels, plain bread, or pretzels are better than eggs and bacon. Having some food in your stomach is better than having an empty stomach so eat something before the trip.

– Avoid alcohol 24 hours prior to sailing
– Avoid coffee and orange juice – they are acidic and may irritate your stomach.

Be clean and sober. Even a mild hangover can easily degenerate into seasickness, besides increasing various risks on the boat.

It goes without saying that it is always important to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can cause symptoms of seasickness to start or make them worse if you are already feeling poorly. If you really must drink alcohol during your trip, take a few B vitamin capsules with you to help fight the effects of dehydration.

Once when you are already on the boat and you start to feel sea sickness symptoms (early signs include chills, headache and frequent burping), try next tips:

Sit at the center of the boat where the rocking and rolling is less amplified.

Look up and out, just look out on the horizon, which usually appears very stable. Your peripheral vision will see the ocean swells that you feel. The whole picture will make more sense to your brain, you will regain your equilibrium and fight the subtle feelings of vertigo that cause seasickness.

At the most basic level, seasickness is a matter of sensory mismatch. When you’re sitting on a boat that’s rolling on the water, the body, inner ear and eyes all send different signals to the brain. Forget your phone for a while, don’t read because focusing your eyes on an apparently stationary target makes them even more convinced that your middle ears are wrong.

Avoid powers of suggestion. If you think about sickness, more than likely you will get it. Or if you suffer other forms of motion sickness (car, train, plane) the stress of past experiences can influence your well being onboard. On the other hand, for those who can forget about it, it’s often smooth sailing. Your mind is a powerful thing. Try to focus on activities on the boat, and though it might sound harsh, try to stay clear of anyone else that may become ill.

Hopefully this article will help you and give some insights. Our goal is to have a great day on the water with you, and we can not help much if you are not feeling well. Please consider few of the tips mentioned and protect yourself before the trip. Deep sea fishing is not easy going as river fishing, sea can be be rough sometimes.