View Full Version : Strange Fish story from Fl.
Its getting dangerous going fishing!
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=63319
SamFamAustin
08-22-2006, 04:15 PM
The "Sturgeon General" ...
DrRalph
08-22-2006, 07:40 PM
These things happen more than we think they do. In the spring people in Florida fish for cobia by following giant manta rays and casting to the fish the swim beneath them. The rays sporadically jump, and every year you hear a story about a ray with a 14-16' wingspan jumping and landing on a fishing boat, usually with accompanying injuries.
Houndfish, sort of a giant version of a needlefish, also jump for "unknown reasons," and we've read stories about people walking along a shallow shoreline and being impaled by one of these critters that just decides to jump. A lady on the West Coast of Florida died a few years back when a houndfish jumped, hit her neck, severed her carotid artery, and bled to death.
That having been said, I'd still rather be fishing.
This just happened on the Suwannee a few weeks back. No wonder they are going to put up warning signs!
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/09/jetski.sturgeon.ap/index.html
Wonder if it was the SAME fish?? :D
This just happened on the Suwannee a few weeks back. No wonder they are going to put up warning signs!
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/09/jetski.sturgeon.ap/index.html
Question to the "Sturgeon General" Do these fish do this on "porpoise"?....Sorry SamFam but I couldn't resist...signed "The Plagiarist".
SamFamAustin
08-23-2006, 03:54 PM
LOL, Bo. Now as chief sturgeon, you should know we live in mortal fear of the porpoise. If they can't eat you they'll ... how can I say this, they're like young male puppies. And I don't even have a leg!
Our main food group happens be have shifted to riders of personal watercraft such as Jet-Skis. THEY eat caviar, WE eat them. My buds down on the Suwannee River can attest to that pretty good.
Thanks for the recent crop of Florida tourists, they tasted great! Say, how are the Abacos in the winter? We're getting tired of cold water and no Jet-Skis. Down boy ... pesky porpoises, how can I learn to swim in salty water with all these horny boogers? Anyway, "catch you on the flip side,"
The Sturgeon General
DrRalph
08-23-2006, 04:05 PM
Check out So You Want to Swim with a Porpoise? (http://www.drralph.net/PorpoiseSwim.html)
Dr.Ralph that story brings back memories. Last year while I was riding my jet ski late night at TC I had a similar experience. Woke up the next morning with the sorest "blow hole".....I promise to refrain any further childish posts!
SamFamAustin
08-23-2006, 05:46 PM
I knew it, Bo is another freaking porpoise. How he got a wave runner & the Internet is something of a big mystery, but a porpoise is, well, a porpoise, smart. Listen to how he talks, jeez Louise! You can almost hear those disgusting little "tee-he-he" sounds they make when laughing underwater. So, we're getting ready for the Trip. Heading 93 degrees from Juniper Inlet, maybe? Us sturgeons will be lucky to get "east," whatever that is. I'll be in the back guarding my rear. Look forward to meeting ya, Jet-Ski boy! :)
The Sturgeon General
rgroseclose
08-23-2006, 06:23 PM
Dr. Ralph Its a shame that the Dream Team Didnt have the houndfish story Man that could have cleared Ojay real fast. I hope this dosn't get me kicked off the Board. i cain't help it I am a follower of the fabulous furry freak Brothers.
Jerry S
08-23-2006, 06:29 PM
???? Where are we going here?
DrRalph
08-23-2006, 06:48 PM
I had the story a little sideways, but check it out in the St. Pete Times: Leeping Houndfish Stabs Teen in Neck (http://www.sptimes.com/News/041900/State/Leaping_houndfish_sta.shtml).
Hey "Sturgeon General" I don't know where you get off posting negative comments about my character!! I find it extremely offensive!! Anyway, me and the pod... I mean ..me and the family would love to have you join us in our favorite pastime...jet skiing.
SamFamAustin
08-23-2006, 07:40 PM
Bo, some friendly Texas joshing there ... I didn't mean to insult your "pod." Will be near MOW this December. I just sent my kids off to "school" so I'm very happy now, maybe a little too much, except I spent all my "nest eggs" on them.
As to the Houndfish, I caught what I thought was a large Atlantic Needlefish but it could have been a houndfish. It was large, greenish, and quite spunky, maybe 22 inches long. I was thinking, while we were fly fishing and throwing ultras into the surf, those guys would hurt if they ever launched one at ya. My "needle boy" had a 3-inch beak, both upper and lower the same length.
I still think the strangest thing I've seen in the Abacos is the hogfish. It looks like it ought to be drinking a martini and smoking a cigarette, a funny face. I hear they taste great. Can't wait! ;)
The Sturgeon General
Sam Fam , I have no more puns which I'm sure is a good thing! You've got it right by going down in December. My wife and I usually head down in May to celebrate her birthday.
oldoc2
08-24-2006, 10:58 AM
None of these fish pose the problem that a live mako shark in the cockpit does. The can quickly destroy the cockpit and sefriously harm anyone who does't escape to the bridge or salon. Generally, the safe approach is to tail-rope it and leave in the sea until it's quite dead and unresponsive. Large billfish can also be a hazard-swordfish can easily kill.
Things like hound-fish, needle fish, sturgeon cause only freakish accidents that are very rare. The fish I've mentioned cause many more frequent injuries. Luckily, most fish in the Abacos are not likely to cause serious injury-except Lionfish.
Having said that, I'm certain someone out there will recount a shark tale on Guana!
Dr. Ralph's earlier post about Giant Mantas having been known to jump and land on fishing boats although I'm sure is not very common but true. When I was in high school my dad was stationed at Guantanamo Bay Cuba and we would see Mantas breach quite often in the bay. Never knew if they were playing or if it was a mating thing. Was wondering how often they are seen in the Abacos. Last May we were on Guana and saw stingrays and a good sized Spotted Eagle Ray right off of DBR's beach.
SamFamAustin
08-24-2006, 12:21 PM
Mantas are cool, although rare in the south Texas area - probably lost or something. Awesome splash!
As to the shark in the cockpit, that's always dangerous. My buddy likes to tag and release them, which can even be more of a challenge, involving three people. It sure is a lot easier to drag them by the tail and drown them. Anyway, I was usually the "tail man" and one guy gets the head to extract the hook, and another zooms in with the tag. The tag man is the expert and calls the shots.
So one day we got a sandbar shark - we call anything dusky and not obviously a mako or tiger or something easy a "sandbar shark" - of maybe only about 4 feet long, a skinny rascal. It looked so easy. But then the head man got bit real bad and almost damaged his hand permanently. That one became the BBQ later that night. /sam
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