11-26-16 Fishing, Island in the Sun and Getting Shrimp off the Dock.

11-26-16 Fishing, Island in the Sun and Getting Shrimp off the dock.

After a week at Turtle Cove Marina in Tarpon Springs, we headed out for a 5-day anchorage. We took the Anclote river out of the marina just before high tide.  The waters get shallow at low tide. We saw a dinghy pulling a large fishing boat out of the channel behind our boat.  They went aground several times while we watched the show. The channel was so small the dinghy was steering the large boat around the corners.  When we first got our boat, we were very cautious if we were in 12 feet of water.  Now we don’t get excited until we see 3 feet or less.

I wish I could have gotten the whole blue boat in this picture. It was quite big for this dinghy to be pulling around......in reverse. They were just feet from our boat. Entertainment at it's best.
I wish I could have gotten the whole blue boat in this picture. It was quite big for this dinghy to be pulling around……in reverse. They were just feet from our boat. Entertainment at it’s best.

We went 3 to 4 miles out into the Gulf so Scott could do some fishing.  There were several man-made reefs that we had high hopes for, however, he didn’t catch anything.  I am getting good at driving for fishing and dodging crab pots. We came into Clearwater. Yowzah there are a lot of high-rise hotels on that beach. It was not busy when we were here so I it wasn’t spoiled by overpopulation on the beach.

This is the view of Clearwater Beach from the Gulf.
This is the view of Clearwater Beach from the Gulf.
There are a lot of chairs and umbrellas on the beaches. Some are for hotel guests and others are for the general public...for a fee of course.
There are a lot of chairs and umbrellas on the beaches. Some are for hotel guests and others are for the general public…for a fee of course.
Went by this little island with these sailboats on it. What a pretty site.
Went by this little island with these sailboats on it. What a pretty site.

We worked our way back north and anchored with Sanctuary by a little island.  The only thing that would have made it better, would have been less people.  There was a campsite on one side and about 6 day trippers on the other side.  We picked shells, took pictures of birds and enjoyed a sunny beautiful afternoon on the beach. These are the little places that you don’t get to see when vacationing unless you are there by boat. We love the secluded unpopulated places we have been able to find with our dinghy when anchored out.

Steve Teresa and Amanda Lasher picking shells on the the island where we anchored
Steve Teresa and Amanda Lasher picking shells on the the island where we anchored
Camper on this quaint little island. Wish we had a tent on board....until someone said they saw a large snake on the island.
Camper on this quaint little island. Wish we had a tent on board….until someone said they saw a large snake on the island.
I found these characters wandering the island.
I found these characters wandering the island.
Barnacles on the beach surf.
Barnacles on the beach surf.
Love this unique looking bird. It is an Ibis.
Love this unique looking bird. It is an Ibis.
Not sure what kind of ducks these are.
Not sure what kind of ducks these are.

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We had delicious shrimp for dinner that I climbed up the fisherman’s dock to get as they were packing fish on ice. The shrimp were so big it took three bites to each one. The fisherman that was at the counter offered to de-head the shrimp for me.  Heck ya.  I took him up on that offer. I asked questions about the fishing industry and he was happy to tell his story.  He took me out back and said I have a show for you.  He threw the heads in the water and the catfish went crazy! It was quite a show.  I also learned that the dorsal fin of the saltwater catfish is poisonous.  It will hurt, swell and turn red for a few days, but it won’t kill you. If you catch a catfish in saltwater, even the little ones, be careful when taking them off the hook. Remember it’s the dorsal fin not the whiskers like in the fresh water that you have to worry about.

Thanks for reading.

Karen and Scott

Unique Random picture of the day:

Unique Random Pirate.
Unique Random Pirate.