Avoiding Seasickness Risks on an Alaskan Fishing Trip

For those who experience it on any kind of regular basis, seasickness or other forms of motion sickness are never a good time. Luckily, though, even those who fall victim to these symptoms from time to time can still enjoy a fantastic Alaskan fishing adventure, even including the use of boats or other vessels as part of the experience.

At Pybus Point Lodge, our all-inclusive Alaskan vacation packages include everything you need for your fishing trip, including access to our custom-built boats, jet-powered skiffs and other watercraft. We're thoroughly experienced helping those who get seasick find ideal remedies, allowing them to partake in a full range of activities without any concerns. Why do some people get seasick, and what are some basic approaches you can use to limit or eliminate these issues altogether? Here's a primer.

Why Do Some People Get Seasick?

Seasickness, which is one form of the broader category of motion sickness, impacts each person differently (including some it doesn’t impact at all). Generally speaking, it's believed that motion sickness is caused by confusing, conflicting messages being sent from our bodies' sensory systems; your eyes take cues from your immediate surroundings while you stand on a boat deck, for instance, but the sensory systems in your inner ear feel the boat swaying and tell your brain that you're moving -- and these competing impulses don't compute.

When this happens, symptoms of seasickness can include sweating, dizziness, extreme nausea, vomiting, headache and other issues. Generally speaking, though, the effects of seasickness tend to be milder than other types of motion sickness (such as car sickness) so long as you take actions to manage your symptoms and get back on track quickly.

Here are some tips on doing so.

Get the Right Amounts of Sleep

Many people don't realize it, but one major part of preventing seasickness involves simply getting the right amount of sleep in the nights leading up to your trip. Arriving well-rested will increase your stamina, plus will maximize your inner ear's ability to adapt to changes in body equilibrium.

Also, make sure you sleep in a position that doesn't put strain on your head or neck. Rather than sleeping with a pillow for support, try lying flat on your back while using cushions to prop up your knees. This will help keep blood circulating properly and minimize the likelihood of nausea during the night before your trip.

Proper Balance of Food

When it comes to food consumption while trying to avoid seasickness, the name of the game is finding the right balance. Seasickness is a product of your inner ear's system, and it can cause conflicting messages to play in your head if you haven't eaten a proper meal beforehand.

You'll feel hungry, but foods like sweets or other sweet-tasting products (like soda) aren't going to help you much; they overload the senses without providing sustenance, which can lead to more issues than no food at all. Instead, snacks filled with protein are going to help you avoid getting triggered or experiencing symptoms of seasickness -- consider items like oatmeal, bagels or others that are both mild and filling simultaneously, then use lighter items like sandwiches, fruit and granola bars as snacks through the day.

Use Ginger

One all-natural remedy for seasickness that's effective for many people is the use of ginger, which can be consumed in several forms. You can purchase ginger in capsule form (look for the key words "ginger root" on the package), consume it as a tea or ground and brewed into an iced ginger drink, or even eat ginger candies.

Ginger helps many people avoid seasickness because of how effective it is at stimulating balance centers located in your inner ear, which can help with nausea and discomfort related to seasickness. Try it out before your trip and see if ginger is an option that makes sense for you; many people find that it's one of the most effective remedies available.

Over-the-Counter Remedies

For others, over-the-counter motion sickness medications like Dramamine or Bonine are highly effective. These are generally only used for occasional ventures out on the ocean or other bodies of water, as they can be quite strong. We recommend giving these a test run before your actual fishing trip, both to confirm that they work and that their side effects aren't too significant for you. If they're effective, the standard approach here is to take your recommended dosage the night before your trip, then another at least an hour before setting foot on the vessel.

For more on avoiding seasickness for any fishing or wildlife boat trip, or to learn about any of our Alaskan vacation packages, speak to the staff at Pybus Point Lodge today.