Monday, July 31, 2006

Gone Fishin ...

     One ugly stick, a couple of hooks, a box of night crawlers I bought from a vending machine at Wall Mart and off I went.

                

     Actually I was just planning to stop by to see the iguanas first. I did bring a fresh head of Romaine Lettuce and some Red Grapes in hopes of coaxing them over for a bit of lunch and an upclose photoshoot. But when I got there ...

                

     one of the first things I noticed was that someone had dropped off 30 or 40 loafs of bread as well as several melons and other assorted fruit.

     The next thing I noticed was that who ever the well intended stranger was that was feeding the wildlife, left several loafs of the bread inside the plastic wrapper. This can't be good ... actually it could be down right dangerous if some ravenous critter decided to eat the bread, wrapper and all. 

     I took the loafs out of their wrappers and felt like leaving a note (but didn't) asking that the feeders be more careful next time.

                

     There were actually several people fishing where the iguanas live ... several people fishing means very few iguanas around as you might imagine.

            

     Anyway ... I ventured a little farther than I did last time looking for my green friends and I did find a few. I also saw several curly tailed swifts which have also taken up residence there (swifts are also not natives). And then ...

                 

     I saw something that I have not seen in the wild since I was a little girl, it was a manatee. (yes, Mort ... they really do exist)Normally the winter time is when manatees come inland to warm up. They especially tend to congregate near electrical plants where the waters are at there warmest. Was very surprised to see one in July.

     The two photos below are the best I could do because it stayed just under the surface of the water, moving towards the bank a time or two to take a breath.

     Not sure if these guys are territorial, or if they just keep moving but I do intend to ask around and to check back myself from time to time to see if it frequents this place.

                  

     I did not intend to do any fishing in this location but when I saw the manatee and noticed the other people fishing, I thought I could break in my new rod and reel and wait to see if the manatee came back at the same time.

. 

                  

     It's been years since I've gone fishing, and really had to sike myself up in advance preparing to put the worms on the hook but the one thing I forgot to take into consideration was the chore of taking the fish off the hook once you caught something.

     The steep bank, shallow water and lot's of dead branchy things for the line to get caught up on did not exactly make for the most inviting location but what really caused me to cut the adventure short was all the little brim that would find themselves on the end of my hook the second I threw it into the water.

     Five or six of these guys in a row, needing to be removed from my hook and released back into the water was enough fun for one outing. This is one thing that was much more fun when my x husband was around.

     I'll try it again soon, but next time I plan to fish off the boardwalk at Loxahatchee sitting on a nice clean park bench instead of in the more primitive setting where the iguanas live.

     My one day vacation is over, it's Monday and time to get back to work. Don't forget our journals anniversary coming up soon. Stop by and visit Viviane HERE to find out how to take part.

                                                 

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love manatees!  Saw a few when I was down in florida, yes they really do exist and are amazing creatures!   That wasn't very smart leaving the wrappers on the bread! Duh!  Glad you saw it and unwrapped them for your scaly little pals!  

Anonymous said...

Finding a new creature is always exciting - I still don't know what I saw in Vancouver - seal, maybe? Something like a lazy manatee in the water, but much smaller. I didn't see a face, since it was just hanging around. Otter? I really don't know, but was excited anyway!

Love your pictures, but then I always do :)

xoxo

Anonymous said...

A vending machine with live bait???? Ewwwww! <LOL> Now I've seen everything!

The loaves of bread in the wrappers is just one of those examples of people wanting to help but not knowing how..... Still, you would think that commen sense would tell them to remove the wrappers <shaking head>

Anonymous said...

I came across your journal through someone else's and I thought it was quite hilarious that Wal-Mart has a live bait vending machine!  Never seen one of those before!  :)
~Tiffany

Anonymous said...

Coy thanks for sharing your day with us really enjoyed reading about  the iguanas and glad you unwrapped that bread ~ envied you your fishing session I havn't been for ages but used to love it ~ Ally

Anonymous said...

What great photos. Loved the wildlife. I do not think I could put bait on a hook but what do I know, I have never been fishing. I would love to see a Manatee, what marvellous creatures.

http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/

Anonymous said...

why am i surprised that you can by live bait from a vending machine? and at walmart?

great pictures.

Kathy

Anonymous said...

I grew up around water but I cannot fish.  Believe it or not, I'm ok with the worm, but I have a fish "phobia" and I can't touch them.  The flipping around freaks me out.
:)

Love your photos (as always) and I'm so envious that you saw a manatee.  I would LOVE to see one somewhere other than the zoo.

Anonymous said...

I really loved your pics.  People aren't always so bright when it comes to critters.  Good intentions can lead to major pains.  I had no clue walmart sold bait, and in machines even...I need to get out more..lol take care,
Dwana

Anonymous said...

Love the banana heart pic best. Glad you were there to take that plastic off the bread. A lot of birds die every year from ingestion and entanglement with plastic waste. http://journals.aol.com/dcmeyer420/DearDiary/  

Anonymous said...

Excellent photos! Martha :-)

Anonymous said...

Hey Coy, long time no talk. I cant believe someone would leave the bread in the wrapper? What the heck? Great pics! Now all you need was The Croc Hunter out there with ya sayin " Look at this lil Beauty!"

B

Anonymous said...

Someone stole our injured baby iguana off of our porch!  My family is devastated..