Mudfish Day

I haven’t caught any of these for a while but caught 3 of them today. I want to know how they are born so big cuz I never see a small one. One was a new personal best on 2 lb test, tipped the scale at 2lbs 15oz. Quite the fighters. I also got a few crappie and bluegill, and 3 smaller Largemouth. Didn’t launch til after 3 and pulled after 6 when light started getting low. I met a photographer today that identified the hawk that has had me puzzled for a few weeks. Turned out to be an Everglades snail kite. Roughly the same size as a red shouldered hawk and the majority of its diet is apple snails, which it was eating one of the first times I saw it. Also identified another bird I saw a month or so back. It was a Purple Gallinule, one of the most brilliantly colored wild birds I’ve ever seen. Both of these are worth looking up. I pay attention to the wildlife and birds in particular and these are the first of these that I can ever remember seeing. A few pics of today’s visitors, hope to see y’all on the water soon, til then.....Skeet
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Bowfin fight like heck. On 2lb test line. Wowser. Good job.

Good going Tim, that second pic looks like a snakehead:yikes with the spot on tail, never seen one on a bowfin.

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I have a friend who is a fisheries biologist with our SC DNR.
She shared this picture with me of a Bowfin in spawning colors. Yes, he has a very greenish tint and also you can see the spot on his tale.
As far as what you caught, I know there are Snakeheads in Florida so I can't say from the picture which it is.
But I thought you'd find the info on Bowfin interesting.
She got this one in a creel survey by shocking the fish.

To my knowledge, snakeheads have much bigger teeth. None will survive my boat should I get one.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

To my knowledge, snakeheads have much bigger teeth. None will survive my boat should I get one.

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Just remember this adage...long and slithery=snake- thus anal fin is significantly longer on snakehead than the bowfin. Both can have the bullseye spot on tail. Both are considered delicacies if cleaned properly(well bled). Google Texas wildlife commission identification bowfin vs. snakehead.
u2s

I bet that thing really gave you a tussle, on the 2#!!


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Way to go Tim, good ole mud fish, we have been fighting them off the past few days as well, great fight but sometimes they like to swipe your jig :mad:. We got resupplied with gulp minnows, had to order them from Wally world on line but they arrived early at the Walmart in Deland so it's back to the water.


"Only a Jerk Don't Jerk"

I have had them break my casting rods.

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Originally Posted by SeaRay

Attachment 365223
I have a friend who is a fisheries biologist with our SC DNR.
She shared this picture with me of a Bowfin in spawning colors. Yes, he has a very greenish tint and also you can see the spot on his tale.
As far as what you caught, I know there are Snakeheads in Florida so I can't say from the picture which it is.
But I thought you'd find the info on Bowfin interesting.
She got this one in a creel survey by shocking the fish.

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Interesting indeed, & as Doug eluded I'm aware of the snakeheads longer tail/anal fin, just caught my share of mud fish in past with no spots....Caulk 1 up to another CDC learning experience...

I blackened a piece of mister bowfin once. For me it was terrible. Like I blackened a wad of paper towels....

I’m with ya Kevin, I’ll take their word for it. I’m sure it doesn’t taste like crappie or sea trout.

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Originally Posted by deepfry

Like I blackened a wad of paper towels....

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:Rofl:Rofl yup, that's exactly what it taste like:Rofl

Good day skeet, I thought I saw you loading up around dark at Highbanks.............white pick-up.

We were up at the Swamp House eating.

That was me. Had I known you were there I would’ve come and said howdy.

Helped some folks with a new to them 20’ deckboat put it on the trailer for the first time. They would have been at it for a while otherwise. Hated to lose the daylight, it felt good being out there.