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Olympic medal cypress trout
OK- I can rest comfortably with knowing the vast majority may not recognize the entitled fish, Cypress trout, but I can also feel confident that many of you have encountered them. Florida's freshwater/brackish rivers have countless numbers as well as I would conjecture the lakes that are fed by them. Also, vast numbers are caught throughout many states and possibly worldwide. My opinion is that Louisiana, true swamp people-type resourceful mindset, are the main folks that regard this fish as very table worthy.
Alrighty then, I'm referring to the frowned upon Bowfin. Also tagged as the mudfish, trashfish, dogfish, grinnel, grindle, choupique, shoepik(Choctaw reference to mud fish), cottonfish etc. I caught my first one on Md.'s Pocomoke River while working a 1/2 oz. Johnson Silver minnow with an Uncle Josh Pork frog fishing for largemouth over lily pads about 45 years ago! The 4 lb. specimen's fight was incredible and he actually broke the weed guard on the spoon. The primitive, somewhat eerie appearance of the fish was researched an it turned out that this is the ONLY surviving species of 180 MILLION years! That's a bunch of birthday candles!!
Yesterday, the allure of the St. John's, had me digging into my retirement piggybank to make the solo trip across a few state county boundaries. A few dissimilarities from last week's trip became obvious as the day progressed. A couple of my spots from last week were devoid of my quarry. The shad surface activity was almost non-existent, no visual crappie feeding on surface, w/t was now 77 degrees(2 degrees higher), Full moon (spawning) phase now influencing @100%, water flow noticeably slower, even bird sightings down, couple lizard viewings. Still mostly using the presentation(successful last week) of 1/96 oz. micro dart #8 hook w/wo minnow 16" under bobber in spawning shallows venue,5' 6" ultralight 4 lb. mono, I encountered this behemoth Bowfin(29" approximately 8 lb.(+-) p/b). My Rubber mesh long-handled net achieved the job that led to the photo-shoot. After releasing the fish and later catching another 3 lbr. led me to today's research, by the way, I have caught a bunch of these, but the size/factors that led me to this dinosaur were mind stimulating. The roe(black in color) highly resembles the coup de tat found in Sturgeon Caviar although a dramatic difference in cost(still $10-15 per ounce) and salt content. Google Cajun caviar. I do enjoy fried roe of many fresh/saltwater species, so this will go on my bucket list.
Back to the website foray, Mr. Sac a lait, the pickings were meager(20ish caught, 11 kept for neighbors in need) with the biggun nudgin' 13.5". Mostly smallish bream/bluegill(a few copperheads) attacked the micro-jig, to fill the mix of the day. The Bowfin spawning cycle is happening now, and they use the same type areas that the crappie use AND consume recent hatch crappie fry. Still, a beautiful St. John's day, enjoying my passion of Piscatorial pursuit, regardless of the specie. As far as trying "trash fish"...did you know that lobster was considered "inferior table worthiness"? How about Florida's Rock shrimp...they had to give them away as appetizers for people to try them!! Tomatoes used to be considered highly poisonous! If you are a worm and bobber fisherman & want to stay that way= Go right ahead, not me, I want to have my arsenal and food opportunities qualified through trial. FYI, YouTube has very resourceful info on Bowfin.
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