that sounds sick, wonder what stuff he's found. I would be sketched out doing that in parts of SA away from a resort.
In Columbia looking for cichlids
- Thread starter duanes
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that sounds sick, wonder what stuff he's found. I would be sketched out doing that in parts of SA away from a resort.
Arrived at the Rio Don Diego after breakfast, and found a dirt path next to a bridge, leading off Hwy 90, into a pueblo (which is just a wide spot in the road). The dusty path was just large enough for the little rent-a-car to fit thru, passing very close to small casa’s , tienda’s and a pool hall, and we ended up in a clearing on the rivers edge.
The river was about 50 meters wide, and has a fairly strong current, so after a bit of wading, and struggling against the moving cool, water (especially where it was more than a few feet deep). We decided to hire a boat. I explained him my interest in riverine fish, so as we motored down el rio, and he skirted the shoreline all the way from the pueblo to the sea and back again, over half an hour each way.
We stopped at a rickety shack for a rest, on the shore of the Caribbean, where I compared the river water temp to the sea.
The water in the river was clear as glass, and the substrate much like pool filter sand, giving the appearance of a desert except for right along the waters edge. There, fallen trees, occasional water lilies, and lush overhanging vegetation provided the only cover for fish trying to escape the many predatory birds.
The river was about 50 meters wide, and has a fairly strong current, so after a bit of wading, and struggling against the moving cool, water (especially where it was more than a few feet deep). We decided to hire a boat. I explained him my interest in riverine fish, so as we motored down el rio, and he skirted the shoreline all the way from the pueblo to the sea and back again, over half an hour each way.
We stopped at a rickety shack for a rest, on the shore of the Caribbean, where I compared the river water temp to the sea.
The water in the river was clear as glass, and the substrate much like pool filter sand, giving the appearance of a desert except for right along the waters edge. There, fallen trees, occasional water lilies, and lush overhanging vegetation provided the only cover for fish trying to escape the many predatory birds.
Awesome man, very cool thread here. I'm jealous, I wish I had gotten into this hobby more seriously when I was traveling Central America I would have done alot more fresh water investigation. I think alot of us are living vicariously through you. Thanks for sharing.
Howler monkeys roared from the trees above.
Although I saw tons of unidentifiable fry near shore in only inches of water, few larger fish (even where it was deep) were seen, although an occasional grey streak would shoot by the boat, but too fast for my Go-Pro to register.
The water temp was much cooler than I expected, and seemed at least 5’-10’ cooler than the Caribbean which I believe is about 78’F. It cascades and flows down from the Sierra Nevada mountains, and doesn't warm as fast in these mid, to high 70' air temps.
After the boat trip, lunch was in order, and up on the highway, between a black smith shop, and some burros a woman was charcoal grilling sausages and plantain.
The sausages were great drizzled with lime, and the plantain stuffed with grated cheese are my now favorite way of eating this starchy banana like fruit. We also bought some guayabana, pineapple, and oranges for the road.
Although I saw tons of unidentifiable fry near shore in only inches of water, few larger fish (even where it was deep) were seen, although an occasional grey streak would shoot by the boat, but too fast for my Go-Pro to register.
The water temp was much cooler than I expected, and seemed at least 5’-10’ cooler than the Caribbean which I believe is about 78’F. It cascades and flows down from the Sierra Nevada mountains, and doesn't warm as fast in these mid, to high 70' air temps.
After the boat trip, lunch was in order, and up on the highway, between a black smith shop, and some burros a woman was charcoal grilling sausages and plantain.
The sausages were great drizzled with lime, and the plantain stuffed with grated cheese are my now favorite way of eating this starchy banana like fruit. We also bought some guayabana, pineapple, and oranges for the road.
I took over an hours worth of underwater video, but I believe 98% of it will look like a trip thru barren aquatic Sahara desert, with an occasional green, yet visibly
fish less oasis. A beautiful trip, none the less.
fish less oasis. A beautiful trip, none the less.
Today we did a little re-con of the nearest river to the resort, the Rio Mendihuaca, a 30 minute walk up the beach for last ditch cichlid search tomorrow, our last full day in this area.
We need at least 5 hours to drive to Cartagena where our flight leaves Friday just before noon, so we figure Thursday will be used up with car travel, and checking out the sights between here and Cartagena. Leaving enough time to make the flight
We need at least 5 hours to drive to Cartagena where our flight leaves Friday just before noon, so we figure Thursday will be used up with car travel, and checking out the sights between here and Cartagena. Leaving enough time to make the flight
The cichlids now have nothing to worry about from me, came down with Montezuma's revenge this morning, which cut my video shoot short.
