How to Prevent Sea Sickness on an Oregon Deep Sea Fishing Charter

So, you just booked a deep-sea fishing charter in Oregon; congratulations! You must be excited about your big adventure, with lots of fish to catch, whether it’s salmon to halibut. But wait, you just realized – You quickly get seasick.

Don’t worry, folks, because your fishing trip isn’t doomed. There are actually numerous things you can do to prevent seasickness or to at least keep the symptoms at bay. Read on to learn all about how to prevent seasickness on an Oregon deep sea fishing charter.

How to Prevent Sea Sickness on an Oregon Deep Sea Fishing Charter

Fortunately, seasickness isn’t fatal. However, it sure is uncomfortable as you suffer from dizziness and nausea throughout your trip. It just ruins the entire experience, and you might not be able to catch any fish because of how sick you feel.

To prevent a ruined fishing trip, there are things you can do to prevent seasickness from happening and to stay safe, such as:

Sleep Enough

One of the best ways to prevent seasickness is before you head to the boat in the first place. You must ensure your body is in peak condition and arrive well-rested so your stamina and reduce the risk of fatigue-induced motion sickness.

Moreover, the United States Navy conducted research that showed how sleep deprivation could interfere with our vestibular system’s habituation process. That means it may lower our inner ear’s ability to adapt to changes in the body’s equilibrium. Because of that, lack of sleep can lead to frequent and severe occurrences of seasickness. So, ensure you get at least eight hours the night before your trip.

Get Enough Food (Not Too Much)

Alright, maybe someone told you that you shouldn’t overeat before your fishing trip. But that doesn’t mean you should starve yourself before boarding the boat to avoid hurling your breakfast over the waters.

You don’t want to voyage on an empty stomach, but you shouldn’t stuff yourself. Balance is critical here, so you need to eat just enough to set yourself up for a good fishing trip.

We recommend beginning your day with a small yet filling meal like pancakes, bagels, or oatmeal. During your trip, graze a bit throughout your day by consuming granola bars, fruits, sandwiches, and the like. Don’t forget to drink water and stay hydrated, too!

It’s also about what you eat, so we recommend fresh and nutritious whole foods to prevent becoming seasick. Think fruits, veggies, lean proteins, oatmeal, and the like. Stay away from greasy foods that can surely fire your stomach up!

No to Alcohol

Those who enjoy alcohol already know its effects on your consciousness and your physical self! It makes you feel extra dizzy and nauseous, especially if you drink a lot and suffer from that raging hangover the next day.

With alcohol, you get to experience all the symptoms of seasickness without even stepping foot on the boat, so you obviously wouldn’t want it in your system before or during your fishing trip.

Alcohol can magnify the symptoms of motion sickness, including headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Do not drink too much alcohol for at least 24 hours before your fishing trip. Even a tiny hangover can end up with you feeling very seasick later on.

Take Medication

If you have motion sickness issues, you can always go for over-the-counter medication. You can find medicines like Bonine and Dramamine, which helps with the symptoms of seasickness. However, ensure you choose the non-drowsy formulas, or you’ll end up sleeping throughout the trip rather than actually fishing.

If you haven’t taken any of these medications before, we recommend talking with your doctor about it and taking it for a test run a few days before the fishing trip.

For those using antihistamines to prevent motion sickness, take the recommended dosage before you sleep the night before your trip. Afterward, take another non-drowsy dose an hour before boarding the boat. 

Interestingly enough, there are other products you can purchase and use, such as the Scopolamine Transdermal Patch. However, this will require a prescription from the doctor. This patch was proven somewhat effective in reducing nausea, motion sickness, and vomiting.

Place the patch behind your ear, and it will deliver the medication through the skin. This patch works by reducing the effects of acetylcholine on your central nervous system.

Another product is the Sea-Band, an over-the-counter bracelet you wear on the wrist. It would exert pressure and stimulate your Nei-Kuan acupressure point, which can reduce seasickness as effectively as other medications.

Eat a Bit of Ginger

Do you prefer a more natural remedy to combat motion sickness before it begins? Then take some ginger with you!

Sailors have been using this herbal remedy for centuries now. A study from the Brigham Young University found that a gram of ginger is more effective against motion sickness than one dose of Dramamine.

We’re unsure how ginger works to prevent motion sickness, but scientists say ginger can shut down messages between the brain and digestive tract, thus lessening the nausea effects.

While you can munch on fresh ginger, you may want to try other ginger-based products designed for motion sicknesses, such as ginger capsules, gum, lollipop, tea, and more. Find a form of ginger you prefer and pack it with you on your deep sea fishing trip to take before and during your excursion.

Wrapping It Up

Seasickness can really dampen a fishing trip, especially if it’s a deep-sea fishing trip where you’ll be on the waters for hours on end. But that doesn’t mean you should let it! Follow these tips on how to prevent seasickness on an Oregon deep sea fishing charter and focus more on enjoying and catching the big one.

If you’re still looking for fishing charters to book, don’t hesitate to contact us now for our services. We’ll be glad to connect you with the top fishing guides and charters for your next trip.