Manatees Love Apalachicola

Well... I saw a first today and didn't have my camera with me...just my luck.

As I started across the causeway to Apalachicola, there were about 10 vehicles pulled off the south side of  Hwy 98, with the drivers and occupants looking at the bay. After stopping I could see something splashing about 50 yards out in the bay and realized that it was a manatee breeding.

It seems that manatees are indiscriminate breeders and when a cow goes into heat, all the males in the neighborhood show up. Today there were 9or 10 in attendance when  I stopped, but I was told they had been there for several hours.

Oyster Radio's Blog

Here are some photos that John took.

John's photos

Here are some photos Laura took of the manatees.

East Bay Manatees

Sunrise On A Tarpon Flat

 This is the view from the my office and it's 0630 and it's time to go to work. We had a few fish rolling and the third cast produced this little 60 pound fish.

We jumped off 2 more fish before the tide went slack and the fishing slowed. While we were waiting for the tide to turn and begin running out, the boat started rocking. I looked over the poling platform and found the culprit! A manatee was was scratching his back on my lower unit.

 

He hung around for another 10 minutes and then with a swipe of big tail he was off to continue feeding.

We finished up the day with one more jumped fish and 2 more manatees.

Tarpon fishing has been excellent for the past 6 weeks, with most days yielding multiple fish in the air, numerous manatee sightings and beautiful weather.

The BP's oil is still 50-60 miles away, but is slowly moving this way. keep your fingers crossed that we will be able to keep the oil out of the bay and are able to protect this magnificent estuary. In the meantime come on down!

Swimming with the Manatees

A friend of mine just returned from his annual dive trip to Homosassa, where the manatees gang up in the springs to bask in their 72 degree water. The majority of the manatees that we get during the summer, spend the winter in the springs at Homosassa and Crystal River.

He complained about the water conditions, but I think the pictures turned out great. Can't wait until April/May when they come back to Apalach.

Thanks Mike.