My Rainbow River Free Diving Fish Pics

[pmtuneman13]

I take weekend trips to the Rainbow River, a spring-fed river that is 72 degrees year round. Here are a few of the decent ones I snapped. There was a lot of boat traffic that day so the water wasn't as clear as it normally is. Enjoy the wildlife. What I failed to catch was the family of 8 otters that were hunting just out of reach of the camera. But some of the fish weren't so elusive.

Yours truly...

Count the bass in this one... and there were many more that I didn't catch clearly. The largest was about 8-9 lbs I guess.

The gars were nowhere to be seen this trip, other than the school of needlenose I caught. Normally I see a ton of florida gar and I once saw a huge alligator gar that scared the hell out of me.

 

[Aquaman_95]

Wow those are Some Really Cool Bass...and other fish.

 

[pmtuneman13]

Thanks. The bass' colors were extremely vivid.

 

[FISH-4LIFE]

those are so cool i live like 2 hours away from there

 

[pmtuneman13]

Take a trip. It's well worth it.

 

[robmcd]

Killer pics of the natives. I freedive in the ocean daily but I would love to do some freshwater diving in water that clear. I take it that this spot hasnt been populated by any non-native invasive fish such as p-bass, mayans, oscars, or jags like other places in FL.

 

[davo]

Really cool photos. Thanks for this... more people should do it!

 

[pmtuneman13]

I have seen an alligator gar, which apparently isn't native there. At 72 degrees, not so many tropicals do well there. I have seen tilapia which I know is introduced. But all 'n all, pretty pristine.

 

[pmtuneman13]

Really cool photos. Thanks for this... more people should do it!

It's nice to observe them outside of a glass box. There will be more to come. And you are very welcome Davo!

 

[wangster11235]

are those needfish native to florida? looks like a fun trip, what kind of camera are you using