KNOW!! the Lesser WEEVER fish. (Pic's)

Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:08 am

The pic shows a lesser Weever, which lives in shallow water, (The greater Weever lives in deep water and grows much bigger) This fish grows to about 4 inches, this particular specimen was around that lengh. strange as it may seem the sting from the lesser weever is worse than that from the greater. The fish burrows under the sand until only its dorsal fin is showing, and only comes out when its prey is close enough for it to grab it in its mouth which has some wicked looking teeth. The weever has no swim bladder and is a naff swimmer which is why it hardly moves. The sting in the dorsal fin is used as a means of defence, if a shadow is cast over the fish it will raise its fin. The sting from the weever is described as excrutiating, and the treatment though simple is not always readily available on a secluded beach. If stung (And they can sting even when dead) you should place the affected limb in hot water, as hot as can be tolerated, over 40 centigrade, for 30 to 90 minutes. Sometimes the spines break off in the foot etc, these must be removed before the pain can be eased. The sting has been known to induce heart attacks, and shock, though usually it just causes pain, redness and swelling, its also possible for infection to set in so the site should be checked for a few days.
Well thats the gist of it, I dont think i left out anything important. This was caught off the pier wall at Bridlington, along with about 50 others.
A few symptoms i missed out.
•Severe pain, itching, swelling, heat, redness, numbness, tingling, nausea, vomiting, joint aches, headaches, abdominal cramps, lightheadedness, and tremors may develop.

•More severe reactions involve abnormal heart rhythms, weakness, paralysis, shortness of breath, seizures, decreased blood pressure, and episodes of passing out. (Death may occur. In rare cases, usually very young or very old, or with heart problems etc)

ORIGINAL Post with comments in General forum.

Joined: Jan 23, 2009 Posts: 2 Location: skegness

caught no end of them last year pesky things i think quite a few people got stung at mablethorpe during the summer i find them just as irritating as crabs

Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:37 pm

Just seen the first one caught at Hayling which is very early as we don't usually see them until June. The bloke who acaught it didn't know what it was so asked me - fortunately for him he had grabbed in a thick towel and had not been stung.

Joined: Apr 24, 2011 Posts: 3

Just started fishing, and I caught a weaver from Saltburn Pier, luckely a fellow fisherman was there at the time, he knew I was a biginner and straight away warned me, and even took the time to show me and explain the dangers, I owe this man one so thanks alot, I hope you fishermen/women are all supportive and friendly as he was, then I will enjoy my knew hobby.

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:47 pm

Hi Judith, welcome to the forum, I think you will find the members on here are all very helpful. If you read the Charity match posts you will see what i mean. I'm sure if theres anything you want to know, someone will help out. Feel free to ask any questions, or even attend meets if theres a general invite, you wont regret it. Cheers..Mick

PS, I'm staying near Filey next week, do you fish that area.

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:18 pm

welcome to the forum judith you will find that every one on the forum will only be to happy to help you

Joined: Apr 24, 2011 Posts: 3

Hi thanks for reply, manic_muppet no I am no were near where you will be fishing, thanks anyway, and cheers Roybay for the kind thoughts. Which is the best bait to use, I was using Ragworm, then changed to I think Mackeral, I was given it so not sure, was doing better with ragworm. But well and truly hooked. lol

Joined: Apr 24, 2011 Posts: 3

Silence, is this an old wives tale or is it true? When I went fishing with my brother 40odd years ago, he always said hush. I was on the pier yesterday and there was a very loud Italian fishing and his son, which reminded me of what my rother used to say, is it true, might explain no bites

Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:56 pm

Hi Judith, it may be true for the freshwater fisher persons but not for sea anglers, just think of the racket in summer with the kids running uo and down on the piers or kicking balls on the beaches.
Cheers
keith big grin

Member Joined: Dec 30, 2011 Posts: 30

Apologies is this has been covered else where but have we a recommended way of handling these little devils when removing hooks?

Thanks
Philipe

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 4:46 am

Hi Philipe
I believe the subject has been covered in more detail in the post on the general forum.
It makes interesting reading, have a look.

Lee

Member Joined: Apr 29, 2012 Posts: 8

Not too sure whether or not I had a couple of these things take the bait when I fished from the Black Path at Marsden, South Shields many years ago. They looked the same as the one in the picture but they were darker grey in colour and also had two nasty looking spines on the gill cover, (one spine each side), I wasnt too sure whether they were weevers or not so I just cut the traces without touching them. There was a notice up in my Doctors surgery recently asking people to be aware of them as a youngster had trod on one with very painful results.

cheers
gag1951