Cashing in on the COOCH!

My's well put out the garbage, pets, put a load o' laundry in, pour a large cup o' Java, grab a couple doughnuts(square-ones if you're fortunate enough). Decided on hitting-up on one of my closer-to-home favs yesterday = the Withlacoochee River aka the COOCH! Named by the Indians for CROOKED RIVER that winds the West coast of Florida for 70 miles. T-totally hooked(pun-intended) on the Florida river eco-systems(St. John's, COOCH). The dynamics derive from the clearer, tea-stained(tannic) water and the vast Cypress-lined shorelines. Drought conditions have the water-level EXTREMELY low, but thankfully, my new rig has a tunnel-hull, which MOSTLY, helped with submerged thingies.


Whenever I visit these "Water Parks, I easily compare myself with Marlin Perkins or Jacques Cousteau and the incredible, eye-opening opportunities they captured on camera. That's exactly why I always make sure to have plenty "film"(battery power) on my Android!
The full-moon phase in April/May have the Bluegil/Shellcracker/Warmouth/Stumpknockers relating to the shorelines to do their species-replenishment ritual(spawn). My weaponry today was very modest consisting of an u/l 6' FENWICK Eagle and a PFLEUGER President 1000 loaded w/2 lb Power Pre braid and 14" of 6# mono leader. 1/32 oz. Beetle-Spins and various tubes/twisters were lures of choice,
One species in particular that was in my sights, was Mr. TILAPIA. Only caught one in my life(Lake Monroe), a nice 2.5 #'r a couple years back with Pontoon Pappy while casting a Bettle-Spin. A quick Google revealed Red worms and shrimp were guaranteed results! I did uncharacteristically pick up a container of red worms(normally arti's only). Within the 1st five casts, I had a nice [COLOR="#FF0000"]TILAPIA nip my black/chartreuse tube(untipped) @boat-side. Instantly, got me fetchin'-up a Red worm! Two casts later!!!...it was ON like DONKEY-KONG!! This Goliath was no GROUPER, but 6 minutes or so later, it became obviously, that a u/l lifetime achievement, hopefully, was about to happen! Check out my "little friend"=

Yeppir- MR. NASTY!!, watch/count your fingers, PLEASE! Identified as Mudfish, Grendel/Grindle, Grinnel, Bowfin,Mud Pike, Swamp Trout, Cottonfish, Cypress Trout, Choupique(shoe pick).[Thanks to GOOGLE]
Yeppir, all things went well enough for the photo-shoot, but I didn't suffer from the final headache as he/she did!
This was quite the First fish of the day, folks!!
The rest of the day was extremely serene with the boatLESS traffic only interrupted with the Gobbling turkeys and Bird-chatter. UNTIL, while scooting a small Stumpknocker quickly back to be released, a 5 foot, wide-eyed adversary, SPRINTED towards the boat!


Here's a couple more fish pics I took after I changed my undies!


May be a tad early on the SHELLIES but I did miss a short hit @boatside from a JUMBO (>12") Shellie or Bluegill after half of his body came out of the water!
I'll be back next time w/flyrod too...

Although the Mudder was put to sleep, I've heard that they ARE EDIBLE(especially when fresh). Maybe someone(Louisiana etc.) can shed some info. I did enjoy Gar balls a couple times in the past. Who knows, maybe another targeted species...did catch 3 more mudders too, apparently they got bedding time now too!

Thanks for Readin'/Ridin'/Reelin'-