I'll have a little fish with that

While browsing some old photos, I came across this one I took at our last fish fry. We have had fish frys (fries?) about twice a year for a many many years. It usually consists of: fried flounder, fried baby whole flounder, fried shrimp (butterflied and popcorn), boiled shrimp, crab cakes, hushpuppies, slaw, potato salad and cheese corn muffins. 

You can see many of these in this photo. Nobody was shy about dipping a huge plate (these pans were full to the top at the beginning).

How to have a fish fry :-).

And while I'm on the subject of cooking the fish we catch (the shrimp come from our favorite local shrimp boat), I also found this photo of a perfect breakfast (or supper) meal. Fried fish, shrimp and grits (a southern favorite). And since it's early morning here, I'd love to have this plate in front of me right now.

Shrimp and grits - Southern Favorite

Do you eat shrimp and grits?

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.