Dead swamp critters and a few days camping and fishing at the beach.

fishshooter

fishshooter

Joined
Mar 29, 2006
Messages
1,466
Found this guy in the kitchen on my dock. Major bad attitude and he was between me and the screen door. Had my little itty bitty NAA Pug in my pocket and the practice sessions have paid off, as you can see by the one shot. It's amazing how well this tiny .22 magnums shoot after a little practice. I decided to use my newish BRKT Necker to skin and prep the hide for tacking. I think I'm going to make a couple sheaths for the two latest knives I've made.
IMG_4440.jpg


IMG_4443.jpg


Great pattern, should make a really wicked sheath.
IMG_4445.jpg





Then I found a good size turtle that had gotten his head stuck in one of my crawfish baskets. He was about dead, with his noggin all tore up, but I gave him a good whack with my Ontario 'chete to make sure. Strung him up to make removing the head easier. Got a lot of stew meat of him. Processed t the whole thing with the Necker, 'Chete, and a GB Wildlife Hatchet.

IMG_4454.jpg


IMG_4455.jpg


The next day we headed down to the peninsula to do some truck camping and try out my new tent. Up off the sand, with an air bed and big bag and pillows, it was damn nice right there on the Gulf with no one but us for miles. Built a fire, did some fishing and off course some cooking and a little drinking. My buddy came down the next day with his boy and caught some fish. The boy had a blast. I like this spot, you have to have a permit and 4X4 so you can usually find a stretch all to yourself. All public access.

My new truck bed tent.
IMG_4488.jpg


IMG_4460.jpg


Ass end was a little high to climb in and out of. Turned off 4 wheel drive and stomped it, problem solved.

IMG_4468.jpg


IMG_4474.jpg


Nice view. We saw two other guys the whole afternoon, and no one after dark. Rare to find this much Florida beach without a bunch of crap built on it. Lot of preserve land around here. In fact this area is a sea turtle nesting site, and is closed at certain times to camping and such.

IMG_4462.jpg
 
Last edited:
The next day my buddy's son and I fishing. I'd hang em and he would reel em in. He had a time. Made the whole trip worth it to see him so excited.

IMG_4487.jpg


IMG_4491.jpg


IMG_4502.jpg



IMG_4515.jpg




Here he is eating raw bait. Not the first time. Once he bit the head off a fish he caught. He eats crawfish and squid, and has helped clean and eat gator and bullfrogs. Not your typical 3 year old.
IMG_4501.jpg
 
CanDo said:
Awesome! Catch any fish?
Click to expand...

Caught a pile of all sorts of stuff. I brought home half a dozen nice whiting. Hung a shark, but lost it after about ten minutes. Girlfriend hooked a green sea turtle, but luckily we were able to get him off the line when she landed him.
 
I got to use a new Spyderco Caspian Salt with the blunt tip. Should have got some pics, I will though. I popped open some oysters with the blunt tip the other day. Worked good. I like it a lot so far. Just used it and my Salt Ladybug the whole trip. Wore the Caspian around my neck most the day and was pretty comfortable.
 
Last edited:
Major Bad Attitude is that snake's middle name all over. They're pretty aggressive if they think you're disturbing them, and will put a hurting on you. When I used to boundary survey, I'd be chopping their asses all day long with a machete, or brush hook if they were really wild.
 
should have titled this "joe don't look here" :P
 
ratamahatta said:
great pics buddy, what kind of stew do you make for the turtle????
Click to expand...

Kinda of a Gumbo. You know they have white and dark meat. I cut chunks of all the white meat and some dark. I leave the dark meat on the hips and shoulders. I slow simmer that with some onions, celery and bell peppers to make a stock, that meat rakes off the bones and I discard the bones. Then I fry the chunk meat in some bacon grease and the make a dark roux in that grease. Then I add the stock to the roux, along with some okra and corn. Cook that for a few hours till everything is nice and tender. Season it with some creole seasoning while it's simmering and add some File' right before serving it.
 
Oh, and I'm preparing the turtle shell for one of my friend's little boys to make him an "Indian shield."
 
Good stuff, dang nice shot on the moc. The last turtle I cleaned, I said never again, them things are a pain but good meat. Chris
 
I don't think it's a water moccasin. The head, especially the eyes look more water snake to me. I could be wrong. I'm no expert.
 
Very cool camping spot bro! I miss the emerald waters and white sand beach of the gulf!

That snake skin looks great, new lil pocket book for the wifey? ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top