Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat

Day 5 of out trip and we're on the road at 6:30 to beat the tourist traffic at Holiday Park. Some 60 so miles along we come to a dead stop. Hwy 27 is a 4 lane divided highway and we are two lanes thick at a standstill. Danny is several cars ahead and calls to tell me the Highway Patrol is turning every one around. We were only few miles from the Park and later learned there was a brush fire and the park and highway were closed for several hours.
In previous years we had fished at a small landing on 27 but never had much luck, but it was the only option since we had not done well at the Alligator Alley landing earlier.
We put in and fished for a couple of hours with little action except small bream. We ran back past the landing to try the other end of the canals. I have little hope of success so I decided to tie up to a snag at the edge of a small feeder canal. I must have parked Gerald on top of a school because he had two in the boat before I could get tied off. It was nonstop for the next hour and we quit at one cooler full because everyone was tired of cleaning fish. We had a fish fry tonight and they were great along with grits and tomatoes.
Some random pictures and comments to follow:

I had forgotten about these danged birds. They are all around the park and as Gerald was backing me down the ramp I looked back and 3 were perched on his cricket box with their heads inside gobbling crickets fast as they could. Soon as I was off the trailer I ran back to shoo them off and two more attacked my box up front. These rascals have no fear and were all over the boat. I got the boxes covered and they went looking for other pickings.
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An Oscar caught on a single hook Rooster Tail. Treble hooks in an Oscar's leather tough mouth is a nightmare, but catching them on spinners is a blast because they strike so hard it jars your fillings.
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This is part of a fleet of many air boats that carry tourists into the glades to see alligators. (Whoopee)
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One of the guys saw this in my boat and asked what it was. You can see how it's used in the picture, but who knows what it's called?

Sorry for the tie up. But sounds like you made a bad day good for Mr. Gerald. Ya'll have fun and be careful. Them gators might like some of that tender Carolina meat for lunch.

The airboats look huge! Don't know what it is but can see it would be helpful the swap

Good pics Ray and sounds like y'all have had an interesting trip with fishing different spots. Enjoyed the reports you have posted.

Glad that you all made a good day out of a bad situation. Thanks for sharing

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ScooperDude

The airboats look huge! Don't know what it is but can see it would be helpful the swap

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Grady,they have 4 or 5 rows, each holding around 6 people. This park is run by Brevard County (Ft. Lauderdale) and bus after bus arrive from the beaches with tourist wanting to ride an airboat into the Everglades. We ran about 5 miles down the canal to escape the traffic and noise. They are unbelievably loud. Pratt/ Whitney aircraft engines and no mufflers.

Interesting bird life here. They have no fear of man and have trained us to feed them.

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Being our last day, I set the cricket boxes out for cleaning.

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We once had a cat that came flying into the kitchen whenever he heard the electric can opener. These Pelicans showed up at the door of the cleaning station when they heard the electric fillet knives running.
Thanks for following along with Gerald and me this week. We leave at 4:30 in the morning to head home.
Ray

Wishing all of you a safe trip home

Great posts Ray. I'm glad you and Gerald had a good time!