re: Prepare me for my first offshore fishing trip......

Several different preventive options available,- use one. Dramamine always made me too sleepy - I've always used the patch. Last trip I went on was years ago, but it was with a group of about 12 guys who fished on a regular basis, though mostly inshore. We ended up in 4-6 foot seas though. I had some extra patches so I gave a couple away. EVERYONE who didn't have a patch on was sick the whole freaking trip. The few of us with patches were fine. I've spent a lot of years on the water, but whenever I went offshore I always played it safe.