Eager Bass hooks self!

Catching Bass is a new sport for us and we will try almost anything to catch some legal ones to eat.  Since I’m so new at it, I normally miss a lot of strikes, but now and then we land one or sometimes even two!

It was Labor Day weekend 2011 and we were camping a few days at South Bay RV Campground on Lake Okeechobee here in Florida. 

South Bay RV Campground is a very good place to park your RV or tent since it’s managed by Palm Beach County and has all the pluses for good camping, i.e., cement sites, water, sewer, electric, internet and cable TV at only $26 a night!  Naturally, we love the fishing so this is a favorite place for us to camp for a few days.

We have camped at this park on several different occasions since the purchase of our little 14’ “love nest” trailer in 2009.

We never take our little Sea Eagle inflatable boat into the main lake since there’s a rim canal in this area and there’s plenty of fishing for such fish as Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Channel Catfish and some others. 

The entire launch area has been upgraded with new steel fishing docks and a cement trail for hikers.

Although most people fish for bass, we usually fish for keeper size Bluegill or Channel Catfish, which we normally catch. Most of them are returned due to small size, but we will keep anything over 8” as they make a delicious meal.

What we like doing is catching a very small (2” to 3” bluegill), hooking them up to a large hook and letting them swim around until something bites…….. and it’s usually a bass!

While I was watching my bobber for any signs of a bite, Karen’s pole had a small bluegill hooked through the nostril just waiting for something to bite.

All of a sudden Karen’s line started moving through the water at a rather fast rate.  We picked it up and I made an attempt to set the hook.

It didn’t take much to reel this bass in although it was fighting all the way to our boat; it just wasn’t that big to start with.  We got it next to our boat and Karen netted it.

When I picked up the bass, I could see that it wasn’t hooked with the large hook we had put into the bluegill, instead, the bass had somehow managed to bite open the swivel and it was hooked with the thin wire that normally closes any swivel. 

We couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw the large hook literally hanging out of the bass’s mouth with our bluegill bait totally gone.

The bass in this photo is only 14” long, but it still put up a good fight for its size.  This just goes to show anyone who fishes for bass that they are normally hard to hook, unless they just hook themselves

What.....a walking catfish?

Have you ever seen a fish that walks?  I don't mean watching it on some nature channel; I'm talking about actually catching one and watching it walk back to its watery home.

I was fishing a portion of the Myakka River in Myakka River State Park when I hooked into this little catfish.  After reeling it in I noticed it wasn’t a regular looking catfish with smooth, slippery skin like most.  It had little hard looking scales that looked like armor.  Found out later that it was an armored catfish.

Once I had it out of the water, it wiggled a lot and released itself from its hooked position, when it dropped to the ground; it almost immediately started walking back to the river.

I had our camera sitting close by, so I grabbed it and started recording.  This little armored catfish would walk a few inches, then rest, and then walk again, and all the time it was pointed toward the water just inches away.

I called Karen over to see this little walker make it back to the water and she couldn't believe her eyes, and neither could I.

Personally, I find this little fish just another of nature's miracles and it excites me to watch an amazing act of nature such as this.  I couldn't help saying to myself, "what…. a walking fish?". 

Come enjoy Sun-n-Shade RV Resort

     We have camped at Sun-n-Shade many times over the years and can say that it is a hidden gem as far as campsites go.  Although this is an older park, it has all the amenities one would like during a camping adventure.
     Many residents make this park a full time home and they are super friendly and are always willing to help you if you need it.
     Right in the middle of the park, there's a beautiful swimming pool that gets almost daily use because it's kept clean and tidy everyday. The pool is attached to a small building that house restrooms and laundry facilities. You always see people resting around the pool while doing laundry at the same time.  If you drive all the way to the back of the property, you'll even find a small putting area for golf fans.
     Near the front of the property, there's a recreation facility for gatherings to meet new campers or permanent residents, or just having special events to celebrate.
     There are 30 amp and 50 amp sites, electricity, water, sewer, and you can even purchase internet service if you need it, and of course you get excellent television reception from local stations and you don't even need a satellite dish. 
     Because a State Wildlife Preserve surrounds this park, you'll find a mix of palm trees as well as pine trees, which gives a degree of privacy and seclusion.
     You'll even find two adult Sandhill Cranes that roam the property looking for a free food handout. These birds are not only beautiful, but they can also be loud when they choose.  At least you always know when they are around.  Very picture worthy since they are tall and stately looking.
     During the summer months, there is virtually no competition for sites, and there are many, so we choose one of the few sites we prefer.
     The onsite manager is a pleasant person who has been there running things for many years.  She not only runs the daily operations, but pitches in to help out when staff is short.
     One thing we like the most is that there are plenty of nearby lakes to fish that produce Bass, Tilapia, Mayan Cichlids, Bluegills and Catfish.
     You won't want to miss the short drive to Webb Lake, and for a small admission fee, you can drive for miles along the lake, where you can fish or take advantage of one of the primitive campgrounds. There's even a shooting range inside this well protected area.
     One very nice feature about Sun n' Shade is that it's just a few miles from restaurants and shopping if you need any supplies.
     The staff is very friendly and available 7 days a week.  You don't even have to drive to a dumpster, just set your bags out by the road and they will pick it up and dump it for you.
     Since this park is located off of Hwy. 41 just a few miles south of Punta Gorda, you have easy access to the I75 freeway, which takes you north toward Tampa, or South toward Miami and Key West. The park entry is very identifiable with a huge American flag and a lighted sign for evening travelers.
Enjoy more camping & fishing stores, videos and pictures!