Big Pine Key - Fish

 As I was reeling in this pufferfish it started to feel bigger and bigger as it inflated!

 This is the first time we've ever caught a Gulf flounder.

 Big mutton snappers with Sharkee

 A big bonita

 We caught many good-sized yellowtails this day.

 What a shock to catch this spotted moray eel. Unfortunately it bit Jerry when he tried to take it off the hook.

 Dolphin lose color right after you catch them but this one is still colorful. They are a delicious delicacy, especially when blackened.

 I hooked this gigantic mutton snapper and immediately handed the rod to John as it was more than I could handle!

 Another successful catch!

 The yellowjack has colorful lines all over.

 Yellow grunt

 This unusual looking fish is a file fish. They are bait stealers. 

 Kay had no trouble getting this feisty bonita to the boat.

 A record mutton snapper catch!

 It was worth staying after May 1 when grouper season started. What a nice red grouper guys.

 His and hers ocean triggerfish. Delicious eating.

 Wow, guys, way to go - a 33 lb. and an 18 lb. black grouper.

 This is how I look wearing full sun protection. Buffs can be worn many ways.

Big Pine Key - Water and Boats

 Even though Big Pine doesn't have a beach, it has an extensive oceanfront.

 The sign is easily seen from rt. 1.

 The bubbles help prevent sea grass from clogging up the canals.

 The pool is a favorite place for me to hang out. Every weekday morning in April that I'm not fishing I can be found doing water aerobics here.

 Ahhh, just gorgeous, and I had it all to myself again today!

 This is my favorite color.

 Nearby is Bahia Honda State Park which has a nice, long beach.

 Nature-made or man-made? Lots of little shells with holes in them adorn this branch.

 Time to snorkel.

 Bahia Honda bayside beach

 See the very blue water on the horizon? The various hues of blue and green are amazing.

 This is Sharkee and Margaret's boat and RV. We enjoyed several successful outings with them.

 This is Jerry and Kay's boat and RV. It was fun to fish with them many times.

 Here we are at our new favorite restaurant overlooking the water.

The ocean is right near Burdine's Restaurant. Their fresh tuna is excellent every way.

Big Pine Key - Birds, Iguanas and Manatees

 The pelicans beg for fish scraps at the cleaning station.

 There's a pond on the edge of camp that fills up when it rains. John names this reddish egret Prancer because of its antics when hunting for minnows.

 Two pairs of blue-winged teals visited the pond.

 Then just a couple of days before we left a pair of roseate spoonbills came to the pond! What a special treat to see these beautiful birds. The one on the left is the reddish egret. The spoonbills were never close enough to get them both in the same picture. 

 What a big iguana!

 Manatees frequently come into the canal to feed.

 People give them fresh water from a hose, just like a drinking fountain!

They are an unusual, interesting animal.