My Rainbow River Free Diving Fish Pics

[guppy]

Just a guess, can't see the sunnies real well, but my first impression is spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/southflorida/everglades/marshes/glossary/spottedsunfish.html
and the bass could be Suwanee bass (Micropterus notius) http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=3383
Both would fit the area and habitat.

 

[pmtuneman13]

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

I have no idea about the needlefish. The camera is a cheap fuji digital with an underwater housing. It costs about 150 bucks, but I thought it did alright for the money.

And thanks Guppy for the help.

 

[guppy]

There are 3 types of needle fish native to Florida but only one commonly found in FW, the Atlantic needlefish (Strongylura marina)

 

[ewurm]

Very interesting needlefish. I've never seen them in their native habitat!

 

[BigPleco]

Love the pics!!!

 

[pmtuneman13]

Thanks guys. The needlefish passed me doing mach 1. I was very lucky with this shot. You take 1000 photos, and 100 are keepers.

 

[Bsixxx]

very nice pictures

 

[Bonzo]

Neato!!! Great shots!!!!

 

[scottgeeze]

That looks like alot of fun, I'll bet you've seen alot of fish that aren't native to the states. How big was the Alligator gar that you saw.

 

[pmtuneman13]

That looks like alot of fun, I'll bet you've seen alot of fish that aren't native to the states. How big was the Alligator gar that you saw.

6 1/2 or 7 feet actually. It looked like a log until it took off like a bat out of hell. I sucked in a mouthful of water and nearly died when I saw it. I wasn't really expecting to see a fish that big in this river. Those fish are scary as hell. Did some research and heard of one reaching 13 feet and over 300 lbs. I honestly had no idea these fish could get that large. But most fish in this river are native. In the canals by my house is another story. There is a wild population of Jack Dempsey and Mayan cichlids down the street. They don't make good tank mates though... pure evil.