An 'on the water' story for our friend oneighty

[fishnfla]

Come April in these parts, the water temp gets up and the sea grasses start to bloom in the estuary.The manatees fix to move out of their wintering spots. They are about and a Captn' got keep his watch out in the channels.

It is also time for the flats tournaments, which me and the Mrs fish because she's good to look at and is good luck to have aboard. She dont make much noise neither which is a bonus when you are sneaking up on the reds and trout on the flats.

So late last April me and her took the lad, he's seven now, to scout out some spots for the top gun tourney. Wasn't long before we found them and the lucky lady had caught and released a 9 pounder trout and another about 7. Worth about 1500 bucks, but not until the following week. So not wanting to press our luck too much, we decided to skeedaddle out and explore some more.

Coming up the old east channel near the ancient Castle Windy shell midden, right where they usually are, was a small pod of manatees, the third group of sea cows we had seen that day.

I cut the engine and we drifted in close. There were 2 young adults hanging close together and a larger older adult hanging off starboard aways. They made us out but were not afraid of our little boat. In the shallow water they were rolling and lollygagging about. Then one of the younger ones surfaced and gave us a look as if to check us out. Then she rolled and right there under her flipper was something she was showing off. A newborn calf, no more than 18 inches, was suckling on her starboard teat. I had seen plenty of juvenal mantatees, but none this small. Mrs and the lad were very excited too.

Then her mate must've got his back up and he started sounding underneath our rig rolling from port to back, right under the deck I could feel him rubbing his back on our bottom. I was a little nervous, he coulda almost surfaced and gave us a tip, but I could not start the engine for fear of harming him. But he was just funning and wanted to splash us a bit. Then he stuck his big paddle tail straight up at the gunnel, and our son reach out tentively and stroked his tail just like you would pet a puppy.

I had the camera out and snapped a picture right at that time. You should've heard the boy: "Mommy! Daddy! Did you see? I petted him! I petted the manatee! Wow, OH BOY I cant wait to tell my sisters what I just did!"

They swam off and we hit the ramp happy. Next week Mrsfish took top lady angler in the tourney. We lost the big money right at the transom, but that is a story for another day.

[margaritamama]

1. Fishing Partners

As I see it, a good fishing trip is alot like life...better with the right fishing partner. Glad I found mine!

[oneighty]

2. Nice story Fishnfla

I a jealous. I have never seen a Manatee.

But I hear in my dreams their Siren Song:

Come to me
oh come to me
I have many
things for you
Soft
and warm
and sweet.

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[fishnfla]

3. The ancient mariners thought they were the mythical mermaids

I think they had been at sea a little too long.

They are beautiful in their lumbering gracefulness though. And real gentle giants

[oneighty]

4. Yes Hee hee

At sea too long. I have been accused of that now and again.

Lonely sailor on the sea
come to me oh come to me

The song of the siren

I heard from afar the siren's song
And high on her waves I flew
And quick at last she wrecked me fast
On the shores of the Nipponese.

From my story 'KAZUKO'

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