Another Nice Florida Flounder!

So I was a little bit discouraged this morning about a lot of things. So I went outside for my daily fishing therapy and just as I retreived my favorite lure, whammo! A nice fat flounder was on. I finally got it dipped and as you can see it thrashed in the leaves a little before I got ahold of it.

20 inches Nice Fat Florida Flounder

Manatee - What I've Been Waiting For

See the mud bar against the retaining wall? It's not mud at all. That's the back of a manatee. I'm so glad I finally saw one. Actually this is the second one I've personally seen this year. I didn't have my camera for the first one.

Florida Manatee in Canal

First Cast Catch

Gotta love it when you make a catch on the first cast. We caught this flounder on the first cast with a mud minnow on a cork. Nice. We weren't yet dressed for the day. This is my mom :-).

A face only a mother could love - Sea Robin

This is what I caught today. A fish that looks like it has wings - a Sea Robin. Kinda of looks like a frog too. It's greenish brown and made noises. 

Fish with wings, spines, greenish brown, weird!

Finally! Monster Flounder!

I only have a minute to post this picture (I'll give the details later). But here's a nice 5 lb flounder I just caught. So glad I got the net under him as the lure came right out when I got him on the dock. Sooooo happy!!!

OK, I'm back home and can give the details. I caught this fella at about 1:00 pm this afternoon. I was, of course, using our favorite lure a Tsunami Swim Shad 3 inch (we like olive or black back colors). He put up quite a fight and I saw him a few times before I netted him. I had the fishing rod in one hand and the dip net in the other. After seeing how loosely the hook was in its mouth, I realize how easily it could have gotten away. So glad I landed this fish! It ended a streak of no fish for me that's lasted way too long. Official size is 5 lbs and 20 inches. Permit me to brag a little with a few more photos.

My biggest flounder ever.

Nice Flounder! 5 lbs and 20 inches. St. Augustine, Florida canal catch.

See the cat's tail in the bottom photo? That is our cat Meowzers and she had to lick the Flounder a couple of times, then hang around a while.

Smokey Morning in St. Augustine

It hit me as I stepped outside this morning. The smell of smoke. I could see the smoke rising yesterday to the southwest as I traveled west across the 206 bridge. Here's a picture of smoke hanging over the waterway this morning.

Fire burning somewhere near St. Augustine

I can't find an updated news article about where the fire is, but I did find this hilarious news story and just had to share the link: Police Shoot Gator Lawn Ornament. It has nothing to do with the fire, but gave me a needed round a laughter this AM.