Well, That Was Awkward!

  Mark and I made a late afternoon hike about the hillside.  Of course, we wound up on the pier and, well, decided that work for the rest of the day was out of the question.  Fishing was calling.  He caught a few menhaden for bait and we tossed the lines.  It did not take long before both lines were zinging out from the reels!  It was beginning to look like a great idea to be fishing....until we landed the fish.  Both were huge catfish.  These were of the hardhead type and not worth keeping as food. We tried again....and again...and again.  Each bait brought up another large catfish.  Since we do not keep these fish to eat, they were gently removed from the hook and tossed back into the water.  Most of the time, the used minnow went over with the fish.  This "baiting" of the waters gathered a rather large number of gulls and terns to the area. Each waited for another free meal.

  It did not take long before we were out of bait.  Mark "fished out" the last bait and, once again, hooked a large catfish.  This time, however, the hook had snagged the fish instead of the fish taking the bait.  The poor thing was hooked in the belly!  Well, that was awkward! Mark removed the hook as gently and painlessly as possible and released this fish as well. Catfish are tough fish and this one will heal soon.  The fish will be feeding again by morning and will hopefully have learned its lesson to stay away from hooks. 

  With the last bait used, our attention turned to the gulls and terns.  One last menhaden was floating near the pier and a few birds were circling overhead.  Hoping to catch the "perfect shot", I got into position and held the camera steady.  Ready, Aim, Shoot!  The first dive of a tern went amiss and the bird flew away with no supper.  Then right behind that one, a tern made a quick dive, snagged the minnow and flew away with all of the other gulls and terns chasing behind.  They all wanted that menhaden!  With millions of the little minnows swimming in the water, it tickled us that the one dead fish was so coveted.  Our show was over as the birds flew southward chasing that single tern.

  When I looked at the photographs that I had taken, the one of the diving bird reminded me of how graceful these birds are while hunting.  Since the minnow was picked up mid-flight and next to the pier, the bird had little room for error.  The little tern handled the situation admirably and never missed a beat as it took off with its prize. Well, that was definitely NOT awkward!  I only hope that after that impressive dive, the tern ate its supper in peace without being harassed by the other seabirds.