Species: Bowfin (Amia calva) Location: Orlando, Florida Date: July 8, 2018 My seventh and final new species of the day made for a grand finale. This was my third-best day for new species, taking the Bronze to Croatia’s Gold and California’s Silver. The final species was one of my top targets, the Bowfin. Along with tarpon and…
Species: Dimerus Cichlid (Cichlasoma dimerus) Location: Orlando, Florida Date: July 8, 2018 “Dimerus Cichlid” is the currently-accepted common name for Cichlasoma dimerus. It looks different from Black Acara at first glance, but it’s hard to place. Here are the key distinguising features: 1) It isn’t as dark. 2) The fins don’t flow or flutter out as much. 3)…
Species: Jack Dempsey Cichlid (Rocio octofasciata) Location: Orlando, Florida Date: July 8, 2018 The Jack Dempsey Cichlid was one of a few “longshots” I had on my Target List for my visit to Orlando. I knew they’d been recorded, but based on my research, only in scattered pockets, isolated ponds, and the like. In fact, their range…
Species: Black Acara (Cichlasoma bimaculatum) Location: Orlando, Florida Date: July 8, 2018 I was told these would be easy to catch. Once I found them, that proved true. Unfortunately, I struck out several times before finding the sweet spot. Alas, it was worth the wait. When I did find them, I also found half a dozen other…
Species: Coastal Shiner (Lepomis auritus) Location: Little Wekiva River, Florida Date: July 8, 2018 One of my favorite professors in college used to say “If you haven’t ____________, you haven’t lived.” He honestly had a lot of great catch phrases, but this was my favorite — especially as it relates to fishing. If you haven’t waited chest-deep…
Species: Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus) Location: Little Wekiva River, Florida Date: July 8, 2018 Though I was born and raised in Oregon, I’m a flip-flop man. I would’ve said I’m a thong man, but some of my students read this blog, and this isn’t the 90s anymore; “thongs” don’t have anything to do with feet these days….
Species: Seminole Killifish (Fundulus seminolis) Location: Urban Park, Orlando, Florida Date: July 8, 2018 My first killifish would prove to be one of the largest found in North America, but in order to catch it, I had to do some legwork. I was told they could be found all over Orlando, and though I ended up catching…
Species: Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus) Location: Lake Fran Urban Wetlands, Orlando, FL Date: July 7, 2018 You don’t need to go to McDonald’s to find the Dollar Menu because Dollar Sunfish are on the menu for damn near every fish in the Southeastern United States. In Florida, this means bass and gar and Bowfin, as well as…
Species: Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus) Location: Lake Fran Urban Wetlands, Orlando, FL Date: July 7, 2018 Gar are so cool, man. These fish can gulp air, will take most lures as well as bait, flies, and topwaters. I once had a four-foot Longnose Gar hit a Whopper Plopper three times during the retrieve. Not to mention, gar…
*No picture available* Species: Florida Bass (Micropterus floridanus) Location: Lake Fran Urban Wetlands, Orlando, FL Date: July 7, 2018 I’ve made some dumb choices over the years when fishing. Putting aside the ones that caused me physical harm, wasted time, and damaged gear, I still had plenty of things I would change. For starters, I would take…
