Gulf of Mexico - Needlefish!

 Swimming/wading in the Gulf, I noticed in the wave swells in front of me, these long green things that looked like pieces of grass.  I dismissed it but a few minutes later, I looked again and saw eyes and a head that would brush up on the surface a bit.... then a LONG snout.  Then  razor TEETH!!  yikes!  They were about 18" long! Their heads reminded us of sea horses almost floating on the surface, yet their sharp snouts and teeth were indicative of a hunting fish.

They were staring at all of us wading in waist deep water as if they were wondering what we were and if we tasted good.  They would literally hover two or three at a time about 12 inches from us and just BOLDLY hang out there.

They lined right up together, pointed at us like this!

We slowly backed out of the water and offered a detailed description of what we saw to the local guys employed by the surf shop selling paddleboat excursions  - hoping they could tell us what they were and if they were harmless.  The guys said they were probably "ballyhoos".  Nope...a quick search on ballyhoo photos did not yield what we saw..

They looked a bit like this.  But very green (like above photo).

I fervently phone-googled "sea serpant", "gulf of Mexico sea snake", "Marine life in Gulf" yielding no results of anything that was what we all saw. 

It took a more dedicated search later on my laptop to discover photos 

and interesting information of the creature.

Meet the predatory Needlefish.  Sometimes called Alligator Hound Fish!

There are several varieties.  Common in the Gulf and all over the world, they kill more people each year than sharks and jellyfish combined.  A needlefish encounter killed a 10 year old boy who was fishing when a beak penetrated his eye and fatally lodged in his brain.

 These hunting fish were stunningly bold when Cory walked toward them to investigate and deter them from encroaching too close to us.  They were a bit slow to evacuate the area and returned a short time later.

http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/needle.html

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needlefish

Apparently, they are a cousin to the flying-fish and can leap out of the water at 30-50 mph for great distances.  This is often where encounters with humans turn fatal.  

The local beach guys/surf shop in Captiva appeared to lack awareness

of what these things were, which added to the mystery.

Happy swimming!

Ciao!

CAPTIVA

 Cory and I explored Naples, Miami and southern Florida 13 years ago.  While there, we set off to explore a location I had watched in a movie credit:  GI Jane.  The SERE training was filmed in this exotic location called...Captiva!  

What we found was this desolate, under-developed paradise that we swore we'd return to as soon as we could.

Four kids and 13 years later, we arrived!  

 My kids always tease me about lingering around to always read the movie credits, but I've tripped across a few interesting bits from doing so! 

 Captiva is a barrier island located on the southern Gulf coast of Florida.

Captiva had predictably changed a great deal.  It had developed..a LOT.  It was Easter weekend and there were more people on the beach and in the streets than we expected.  A LOT more.

Still lovely, still wild in terms of marine life.

 This guy (a Heron?) flew right up to us seeking a fish handout from the fishing family adjacent to us.  They tossed their catch to him rather than toss it back into the Gulf.  

  

We did not see any, but there is a healthy population of Manatees that hang around Captiva.  I think we would need to rent some kayaks to find them.

 

I snapped the photo above as we drove across from the mainland.  This is actually a photo of Sanibel, the larger, better known island en route to Captiva. 

 The Floridian Gulf of Mexico is a great way to catch sunsets.

 Swimming out to greet the dolphins. 

Growing up in suburbia, I recall the summer ice cream man and his funny truck that played songs beckoning all of us to run home for cash and run back out before he drove off.  Joey makes beach stops!

Cute cottage inn where we stayed.

 We stayed at the Captiva Island Inn. The lower level of this pink cottage was our place - a 2BR that sleeps eight.  

A great location about 200 steps from the beach and right in the heart of the only tiny village on the island.

 Chillin' with a Ginger Beer!

All week he wanted to climb a palm tree for a coconut.  This was as far as he got.

 Paddleboarding was awesome!!!  A pod of about five dolphins swam around us in a close circle.  We saw a shark, too.  Truly one of the most magnificent experiences of my life.  So glad to share it with the three older kids.

 

 Night life consists of mellow live island music as we read books on our private patio at the Inn.

 Dripping with fresh fruit.

It was a lovely stop and we can't wait to get back!

Ciao!