Today was our daughters' last full day with us - their flight departs at 06:00 a.m. Saturday (yes, in just a few short hours and we're bringing them to the airport - might be my first opportunity for a sunrise shot in a long time !). We've had a wonderful time with them.
We decided to go to a beach on Captiva Island and we read that since parking was limited we had to be there early. Good thing we followed the advice because we got one of 4 remaining spots. The water in the gulf was up to about 24C/75F - which is a little cooler than the 30C/86F in our pool.
Some fishermen were already casting off the shore, and we walked over to see what one had on his line as we saw his rod bend. Now over the past few months we've seen many fishermen and their catch but we had never seen one land a shark ! Turns out that this one is called a bonnethead, and is related to the hammerhead. Despite seeing this up close, our daughters were determined to do a little body-surfing and swimming.
I learned later this evening that the bonnethead shark is the smallest of the hammerhead family, only grows to 3-4 feet, and is considered 'timid'. I still think our daughters showed courage to share the waters with this 'timid' shark.
(70-200mm f5.6 1/1250 sec ISO200)
We decided to go to a beach on Captiva Island and we read that since parking was limited we had to be there early. Good thing we followed the advice because we got one of 4 remaining spots. The water in the gulf was up to about 24C/75F - which is a little cooler than the 30C/86F in our pool.
Some fishermen were already casting off the shore, and we walked over to see what one had on his line as we saw his rod bend. Now over the past few months we've seen many fishermen and their catch but we had never seen one land a shark ! Turns out that this one is called a bonnethead, and is related to the hammerhead. Despite seeing this up close, our daughters were determined to do a little body-surfing and swimming.
I learned later this evening that the bonnethead shark is the smallest of the hammerhead family, only grows to 3-4 feet, and is considered 'timid'. I still think our daughters showed courage to share the waters with this 'timid' shark.
(70-200mm f5.6 1/1250 sec ISO200)
22 comments:
amazing capture (with your camera, that is). I hope this timid little creature got back into the water safely...
Wow, you got it. Great job.
Oooooo Rick
Great photo !!!!
Bon voyage to the children and the good to meet again!
Greetings
Wow! Great picture of this shark.
I think He's actually quite cute! I hope the fisherman threw him back! Wow, i can't believe the water is so warm there! Sounds great~
That would be enough to keep me out of the waters.
I think so, too! We saw some folks stand-up paddle boarding in the bay yesterday, and a dolphin was swimming right next to them! I wouldn't mind a dolphin, but no sharks, please...
looks a bit intimidating as a swimming companion ...
ONLY 3-4'! This is quite the catch, it must have taken tons of energy to reel this one in. Yup, your daughters are brave.
What did the fisherman do with this shark? I'm curious if they eat this.
Enjoy your day Rick, this photo is fantastic!
Thrills abound Rick, neat capture (if you pardon the pun.lol)
Thanks, Carolyn; I'm not sure what his fate was, but at least he made it to the internet - not many sharks can say that ! ;-)
Thank you, Hilda !
Thanks, Magda - we had a great time and they made it home safely today !
Thanks, Farmchick !
I'm not sure where he ended up, Becky - do people EAT sharks ? With temps constantly in the low to mid-80's the gulf is warming up quickly !
It does give cause to pause, doesn't it Ruth !
I agree, Leslie - we've seen lots of dolphins and we're told that the bay here near Sanibel and by Boca Grande is full of hammerheads - we're sticking to our pool !
I won't argue with you on that, Susan ! ;-)
Nah, Darlene - this one was only a baby - about 18-24" (but it still had teeth !). I'm not sure if they eat this or not (shark fin soup ?). Thanks Darlene, and I hope your weekend is going very well !
Yep - 't was a thrill seeing this - and better on shore than in the water ! Can't take credit for the capture except via the camera, Stewart ! ;-)
ummmm...if I knew that was any where close to me...I'd BAIL out!!!!
Hope they aren't returning to the northern cold?
Great capture...thanks for sharing this! So much fun to see up close!
We were at Virginia Beach last summer and there was a bull shark swimming near my son. Everyone got out of the water and we walked the beach following the fins, then, when we got back to our beach umbrellas, I was surprised how many people got back in the water. Not me...I still haven't decided if I'll ever go back in.
Btw: Love the title of this post!
Awesome! :D
I think you're safe from these 'little' guys, Dawn - apparently they only like warm water - no danger of that near Canada ! ;-)
Thanks, Michelle ! Great to see your sense of humor. Isn't it amazing how people think there's safety in numbers ! As in "What are the odds that shark will get ME !"
Thank you, Soraia !
WoW! How cool is THAT! I thought it was cool when my daughter caught a catfish out of a mud puddle in our front yard after rains flood the pond across the street from us a few years ago... nothing compared to a SHARK! It sure is a beauty & I bet that fisherman was proud! =)
One of my daughters was with me and she was pretty excited about being able to hold it - by the fishing line, of course ! It was the fisherman who told us what kind it was - and yes, he did seem proud of it. Thanks, Tricia ! But I think catching a catfish in a puddle in your yard is pretty cool too !!
Really brave! I do not know if I would do the same!
Beautiful capture.
Thanks, Minu ! My daughters were braver than me - I never did go in the water !
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