Florida Christmas 2015

[MuskieBait]

Well, another year, another Christmas spent in Florida.

I had not plan for this trip. Elijah emailed me in the fall to inform me he was going to Florida for Christmas and he need fishing info. Soon, I jumped on when Michael could take time off work to join me. George was snowbirding in Florida so he planned to join us for a few days in the Keys, and we roped in my friend Bartek as well for his first real Florida fishing experience.

I had high hopes to add a number of new species, but both weather and our group wish had me scratched out a number of new species opportunities. Still, I managed to catch 8 new species from Florida. It was no small feat since I had already caught 103 new species previous from Florida, plus another 50+ saltwater species from the Western Atlantic Ocean from different states and countries.

Although the new species additions were low by my standard, the quality made up for it. The species I managed to add were very, very cool!

Spotted Scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri) - Species #477



Spotted Trunkfish (Lactophrys bicaudalis) - Species #478



Grey Angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus) - Species #479!!!



Hardhead Silverside (Atherinomorus stipes) - Species #480



Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) - Species #481!



Ocean Surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus) - Species #482



Irish Mojarra (Diapterus auratus) - Species #483



Atlantic Stingray (Dasyatis sabina) - Species #484



I also caught a personal best Red Grouper. It was most likely an inch longer than the legal keeper minimum length of 20", but we didn't have a ruler on board and we didn't want to risk keeping a barely legal fish, so we sent it back to the reef.



Aside for the new species, I caught another 40+ species. I only photograph a fish if I needed better pictures for my life list, or if I happened to catch something rare or cool. The usual Grunts, Jacks, Snappers and such are not that cool anymore. Here are some addition "cool" species that were on my camera.

Sheepshead



Puddingwife Wrasse



Blue Parrotfish



Graysby



Sand Perch



Grass Porgy



Blackear Wrasse



Grey Triggerfish



Oyster Toadfish



Overall, it was a great trip to Florida that I got to spend with great friends and family. Elijah and I are already talking about Florida Christmas 2016! :lol:

And for your reading pleasure...

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-1.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-2.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-3.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-4.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-5.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-6.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-8.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-9.html