Is That Bait?

  The other day, Mark and I were fishing on the pier.  While we were in hopes to catch a few fish for our lunch, we were also trying to catch "trash" fish to use as crab bait.  The crab pots were empty and, well, to catch crabs, you have to entice them to go into the traps in the first place.  So any fish we caught would be put to good use.  The first few bites we got were pointless nibbles.  The small fish would hit and miss.  Small nips were taken but not the good "run with it" type bites that result in a setting of the hook.  It appeared that it was to be a slow day fishing.

  Then, my line started going out at a nice pace.  This looked better!  I set the hook and landed a nice sized hard-head catfish.  This was not good for our lunch but the crabs would at least dine well!  After a bit. Mark caught a fish.  I had to tease him a bit because his was a tiny gaff-topsail fish.  "Is that your bait?" I ragged him.  Laughing, he agreed that the tidbit of a fish could very well be used as bait.  After a few photographs, the tiny tot was tossed back into the water and told to grow a bit before coming back!

  It seems that the Bay is full of these tiny gaff-topsails and tiny catfish.  It makes you wonder just how these little ones survive out there with no protection from adult fish.  We humans are so protective of our little ones that it is hard to fathom how other creatures have no maternal/paternal feelings whatsoever for their offspring.  In the wild, there are a lot of critters that would dine upon their own young if given the chance.  The recognition of offspring is just not there.  It is especially so with fish and reptiles.  Those little ones had better move along when it comes to meeting the folks.