More than I bargained for!

  This afternoon, Mark and I headed to the pier.  We had no specific reason other than just to be there but after getting to the end of the pier, it only seemed proper to throw the net at least a couple of times.  He picked up the large net and I grabbed the shorter one.  Not wanting to throw in the same vicinity of each other, I walked up the pier a bit.  If there were any mullet nearby, he could catch them easier in the larger net.  I was more or less wasting time with the little net.  Still, it is fun and good exercise.  

  My first throw with the small (5ft) net yielded a huge catch!  As soon as I started to bag the net and haul it back in to the pier, I knew I had caught something.  Nets just do not weigh THAT much!  I was actually struggling to pull the net toward me!  Hmm?  I called to Mark.  "I either caught a bunch or something huge!"  Nope, I did not catch boatloads of fish but rather one quite large snapping turtle!  I threw that net right over top of the critter!

  I hauled the net up on the pier where Mark and I pondered just what we were supposed to do with this monster!  As we stood staring at him, he started tearing at the net.  That webbing was going to be no match for his sharp claws and powerful jaws.  If we did not do something quick, my net was going to be history!  Mark hurried to get my camera (of all times for me to not bring it!) while I slammed a bucket over the snapping turtle.  Well, duh!  That did not work!  The turtle was larger than the bucket!  After knocking the bucket to its side, the turtle proceeded to rip the net.  NO!!!  I slammed the bucket atop the turtle once more and this time sat on it!  There!  Now lets just see who is stronger!  Yeah, well, hate to say it but the turtle actually started carrying me as it worked its way to the edge of the pier.  Nope!  You are not taking my net with you!!!  I turned and started pressing down as hard as I could.  I guess the critter stopped to size up his situation because he sat still long enough for Mark to get back to the pier.  Whew!  

  It took a good ten minutes to untangle that snapping, clawing critter from my net.  I am sure glad that Mark was there!  He had no problem flipping that fellow upside down and holding onto his tail! Mark is my hero!!!   Me?  Nope, no way, not happening!  I tried to be helpful by distracting the turtle with a piece of cane pole and that sucker grabbed ahold to that thing and cracked it! (Mark was smart and used a board to push the net away.) After seeing what the turtle did to that pole,  I decided right then and there that I was rather fond of my fingers!