This afternoon I went out in the Gulf in my kayak out past the second sand bar. I tried to find a clear path with no jelly fish and exited my kayak. Ouch! There were countless jelly fish and no space between them and I got stung pretty good so back in the kayak I went.
Earlier in the day while in the water I had what I can best describe as a Pilot fish that kept hugging me and running into me and it kinda spooked me, making me leave the water. Well, on this afternoon occasion, I noticed several of those Pilot fish begin to surround my kayak and then a whole swarm of them. I noticed an entire school circling under me until I noticed something else.
It first appeared to be some of the dead, brown June grass that is more in the shallows, but something about it appeared to define itself differently. I looked closer and noticed fins, but the shape was not recognized as anything I understood. Upon closer inpsection it turned out to be three Nurse sharks with their noses meeting and their bodies going out away from the center.
I stayed above them, leaning my head over the side of my kayak and watching them. They appeared to be asleep, resting, whatever. I wanted so badly to get out and get a good look from the water, but the jelly fish were everywhere out there, leaving no clear path to exit my kayak. I was definately more afraid of them than the Nurse sharks.
But then, there was a shark about 10 feet away from me that slammed through the surface attacking something. I did not see it clear enough to guess the type or even get a good enough look for size. But it was pretty neat.
Does anyone have an idea when these jelly fish will get the heck out of here? They have been horrible all summer out there in the deep.
Btw, the reason I decided to go out a second time today was as I was leaving Robert Ellis street, from the stop sign down passed One Seagrove Place into the Gulf I noticed what appeared to be a wave out beyond the 2nd sand bar. I drove down and watched it for a while and never determined what it was. It wasn't like the normal bait fish thing. I read that the Tarpon were running through, which is why I went out the second time to see if it was Tarpon out there creating that commotion. I just don't know. But the shark thing was pretty neat. I love this place.
Replies
61
SWGB
Keep up the grayt nature reports and get a waterproof camera!!! I'm sure at this point we'd be willing to take up a collection. ;-)
As to the jellies, they like warm waters. Until we get a significant rain fall (come on Fay) and the Gulf stays warm they'll stick around.
As to the jellies, they like warm waters. Until we get a significant rain fall (come on Fay) and the Gulf stays warm they'll stick around.
Beach Fanatic
It first appeared to be some of the dead, brown June grass that is more in the shallows, but something about it appeared to define itself differently. I looked closer and noticed fins, but the shape was not recognized as anything I understood. Upon closer inpsection it turned out to be three Nurse sharks with their noses meeting and their bodies going out away from the center.
They were saying Grace.....
They were saying Grace.....
Beach FanaticAuthor
This is the best I could do. I hope you can make something out. I actually put my camera under water on one, in a zip lock bag, but it did not come out. This one is from above the waters surface.
Beach Lover
In the news...jellies
Hey Mike...what a neat thing to have observed. Kinda got your blood boiling a bit I would think. Anyway, I saw on the news a few weeks back that there is a worldwide jellyfish epidemic, especially along the Atlantic coast up near NY and even over in Japan. Thought this was very interesting. And yes, this has been a very bad year for jellyfish, the worst in many. Keep up the good work with the camera!
Hey Mike...what a neat thing to have observed. Kinda got your blood boiling a bit I would think. Anyway, I saw on the news a few weeks back that there is a worldwide jellyfish epidemic, especially along the Atlantic coast up near NY and even over in Japan. Thought this was very interesting. And yes, this has been a very bad year for jellyfish, the worst in many. Keep up the good work with the camera!
Beach Fanatic
My wife and I were out kayaking about a week ago and saw a Tarpon completely launch out of the water. It was 5 - 6 feet long and was awesome to see. We headed out to where it was, but didn't see it again. We too had large schools of fish maybe a foot long gather under our kayak and follow us in the shade of the boat.
Would have gotten spooky if a shark was to suddenly try to attack that school of fish. They were only maybe a foot under our boat.
You can buy polaroid cameras build for underwater use that are disposable. We have one with a few pics left on it.
Great story!
Would have gotten spooky if a shark was to suddenly try to attack that school of fish. They were only maybe a foot under our boat.
You can buy polaroid cameras build for underwater use that are disposable. We have one with a few pics left on it.
Great story!
Beach Fanatic
You need to rig up an underwater viewer. Just take a bucket or a cardboard milk carton cut off the top and bottom, cover one end in plastic , make sure you leave enough excess to glue it or rubberband it on really tight and high up. Stick it in the water and you can see straight down as if you were in the water with a mask on. You can buy these things but as kids we always made them.
Beach Fanatic
I have decided you are seeing some pretty cool things in your short time in sowal. It sounds like your are enjoying every minute of living there. Thanks for the stories, keep em coming. And good luck w/ the book.
Beach Fanatic
You need to rig up an underwater viewer. Just take a bucket or a cardboard milk carton cut off the top and bottom, cover one end in plastic , make sure you leave enough excess to glue it or rubberband it on really tight and high up. Stick it in the water and you can see straight down as if you were in the water with a mask on. You can buy these things but as kids we always made them.
My wife and I talk about making one of these. I know it would be a big help in seeing what is down there.Beach FanaticAuthor
Today, rather than buying a disposable camera, I purchased an enclosure for my camera from Yellowfin in Seagrove. Today I caught a fish that didn't fare well after the catch. I released it and it soon became apparent that it would not make it. A brown pelican made a meal of it within 10 mimutes of its release though, so the food chain took care of it.
I saw Tarpon today too, and had one boiled under my bait. But while in the water I witnessed a cool thing. There were two crabs in apparent combat. The larger one would pursue the smaller one and try to catch it with a left cross but the smaller one was shifty and swift. I felt bad for the smaller one, until I noticed that after it got away each time it would go in again for more. I wondered what the heck was going on.
Then, it turned its back and went into the bigger one, which subsequently huddled over the smaller one and kind of piched it a little. I assumed I might be witnessing a sexual act (for full disclosure, I was in no way turned on) but I'm not sure (about the act, I mean). If it was intercourse, it ended rather quickly. These crabs were the whitish looking ones, not blue crabs.
I also saw a flounder in shallow water. Just its head and mean ass teeth were on display, and its eye. The water was very calm today and if I had my light with me it would be a perfect time to go gigging.
Oh, and I found a dead scorpion under my kayak seat cushion. I suppose it got under there when I had it stored on the side of my house and I smashed it when I sat down. I will give it to my son along with a neat little Coastal Dune Snake that I found dead months ago.
The beaches are peaceful now aren't they? So peaceful.
I saw Tarpon today too, and had one boiled under my bait. But while in the water I witnessed a cool thing. There were two crabs in apparent combat. The larger one would pursue the smaller one and try to catch it with a left cross but the smaller one was shifty and swift. I felt bad for the smaller one, until I noticed that after it got away each time it would go in again for more. I wondered what the heck was going on.
Then, it turned its back and went into the bigger one, which subsequently huddled over the smaller one and kind of piched it a little. I assumed I might be witnessing a sexual act (for full disclosure, I was in no way turned on) but I'm not sure (about the act, I mean). If it was intercourse, it ended rather quickly. These crabs were the whitish looking ones, not blue crabs.
I also saw a flounder in shallow water. Just its head and mean ass teeth were on display, and its eye. The water was very calm today and if I had my light with me it would be a perfect time to go gigging.
Oh, and I found a dead scorpion under my kayak seat cushion. I suppose it got under there when I had it stored on the side of my house and I smashed it when I sat down. I will give it to my son along with a neat little Coastal Dune Snake that I found dead months ago.
The beaches are peaceful now aren't they? So peaceful.
Beach Fanatic
When we walked this morning, there were several smaller sting rays patrolling the surf line. Also had either hardtails or ladyfish working the edge of the surf, pushing masses of minnows up into the wash and then catching them as they came back down. They were working together with the seagulls who were scooping them right off the sand, forcing the minnows to retreat to the deeper water where the fish were waiting. Must have been a thousand fish all about 10 inches or so long. Fascinating.
SWGB
Yep, that's crab sex. Make sure you type or speak clearly about that experience or your dating life is going right down the tubes.
Beach FanaticAuthor
I walked the trails for about 30 minutes before the system makes its way in. Here is what I found.
SWGB
That sir was a pygmy rattler, good for target practive.
Beach Comber
This pic is awesome Michael......how are the snakes in the Cassini swamp? Greetings from Hans and Elfi in Canada.
Beach Fanatic
I walked the trails for about 30 minutes before the system makes its way in. Here is what I found.
Either you have a really good camera/zoom or you seem to have been dangerously close to that pygmy rattler! That makes me re-think riding my mtn. bike on the trails next weekend.
Also, that shot of the nurse sharks huddling is incredible; that must have been a cool site to see. You don't seem to miss these cool sites; I seem to remember you were on your kayak in late June when a manatee passed through...
Edited
SWGB
He's just new, 3 more months and he'll be like the rest of us who just barely miss some of these marvels.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Yep, that was me with the Manatee. And I don't have any great zoom lens, just a simple, cheap digital. I am use to Cottonmouth and know their tendencies, but was new to the pygmy. I did have one that struck at me vehemently, but they do a lot of gyrations. They kinda look like they have parkinson disease in the way they jerk around. They don't open their mouth and show themselves like the cottonmouth. This particular one pictured here did not strike. I removed him from the side of the trail and was thinking of bringing him home with me...long story.
Hey Hans and Elfi. No, I haven't seen a whole lot of snakes in Cassine of late. After the spring, where I saw plenty, including some great cottonmouth, there have been few. The other day I handled a pine or an oak snake, not sure, and it was very docile. I hadn't seen a pygmy for perhaps a month or more until today. The snakes have been rather dormant, almost as if they were hibernating away from the sun. In addition to this pygmy, I also came across two sticks that looked eerily like snakes and while I did not scream like a girl, I came close. Each was in the middle of the trail and each thick and fierce looking.
The pygmy was found on the Eastern Lake trail between the two little bridges and before the picnic table area. Btw, if the wind is bad tonight I would not be surprised if Eastern lake busts through. It is high right now.
Hey Hans and Elfi. No, I haven't seen a whole lot of snakes in Cassine of late. After the spring, where I saw plenty, including some great cottonmouth, there have been few. The other day I handled a pine or an oak snake, not sure, and it was very docile. I hadn't seen a pygmy for perhaps a month or more until today. The snakes have been rather dormant, almost as if they were hibernating away from the sun. In addition to this pygmy, I also came across two sticks that looked eerily like snakes and while I did not scream like a girl, I came close. Each was in the middle of the trail and each thick and fierce looking.
The pygmy was found on the Eastern Lake trail between the two little bridges and before the picnic table area. Btw, if the wind is bad tonight I would not be surprised if Eastern lake busts through. It is high right now.
SWGB
My money is on all the lakes busting thru with all the rain we are about to get.
Beach FanaticAuthor
It oughta be interesting. It would be neat to actually be on location as the process of the lake breaking through unfolded. I may head out on my bike right now to see, hear and feel the wind. Can I get a DWI on my bike?
Just joking. I'm perfectly fine.
Btw, I never step outside without a nightlight. I've had several pygmy in my yard (3) since moving here.
Just joking. I'm perfectly fine.
Btw, I never step outside without a nightlight. I've had several pygmy in my yard (3) since moving here.
SWGB
It oughta be interesting. It would be neat to actually be on location as the process of the lake breaking through unfolded. I may head out on my bike right now to see, hear and feel the wind. Can I get a DWI on my bike?
Just joking. I'm perfectly fine.
Btw, I never step outside without a nightlight. I've had several pygmy in my yard (3) since moving here.
Yes you can get a DWI on a bike, but I'd be more worried about wind gusts on a bike right now. Plus that rains coming at some point. I didn't even think to look at some of the lake levels. That dock on Stallworth lake is definitely going under though.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Yes, the rain prevented my exit into the night. For those interested I thought I'd share another image, taken several months ago of a hognose snake. I happened upon two hognose snakes in a neat mating ritual. One slithered away but this one spread its hood in a defense mechanism. It's the first time I've seen this. It made itself look like a Cobra. It was exciting. The snake also hissed very loudly. Its third defense is to play dead if molested further. I don't like to molest animals so I allowed it to miantain some semblence of dignity.
Edited
SoWal Insider
Holy shiite! I received fair warning from a fellow Midwesterner but I just had to take a peek. I just can't believe I lived the first 21 years of my life down there and never had the experiences some of you have recently had.
Snakes, yes. We knew they were out there, everywhere. A few times we'd see them crossing the road, or we'd accidentally rake across a few rattlers, or find them coiled on the patio. These were all common occurrences.
But I gotta say, ignorance was bliss for us most of the time. We played and traipsed thru woods all the time; swam in rivers, and never worried too much about snakes (however, I was always the one that was the most leery).
But the ocean, all we worried about were sharks when we swam out past the 2nd bar or a few crabs pinching your toes, or hopefully not step on a ray.
Really, if I knew THEN what I know NOW...
.
Beach Fanatic
I have stepped on a crab and got bit good. Bled like a stuck pig. I had netted a big blue another time and transferring him from the net to the cooler, he got ahold of me and one side of the claw went clean through my fingernail and into the meat.
I hope people understand just how hard a crab can bite. It is no little nibble.
I hope people understand just how hard a crab can bite. It is no little nibble.
SWGB
I have stepped on a crab and got bit good. Bled like a stuck pig. I had netted a big blue another time and transferring him from the net to the cooler, he got ahold of me and one side of the claw went clean through my fingernail and into the meat.
I hope people understand just how hard a crab can bite. It is no little nibble.
Most natives call it a nibble because blue crabs will pinch and run. If you ever encounter a stone crab watch out. They pinch and hold, that big old claw is like a hydrolic (sp?) vise. Trust me once you get one of those the blue crab is just a nibble. ;-)
Beach Fanatic
Maybe all the walking in the sand has made my skin thin. Both times, both sides of their claws penetrated the skin.
Checking your forum account
Please wait while we verify your forum account.