The next morning we mixed things up a little, checking out some spots suggested to us by the species hunting legends Pat, George, and Martini themselves.

First was a freshwater spot that held a new species of gambusia for us.  Gambusia roughly translates to “nothing” in the context of a joke.  It was quiet “interesting” plucking them from a tall boardwalk as they darted around the mangroves.

Mangrove gambusia (it actually is something, the name lies!)

There were what I think were hardhead silversides schooling in the current by a bridge, but they would not bite.  We walked around and Mark caught a cool needlefish (no that’s not the species name) and then we moved on.  It was a cool needlefish though, landed in true Trailer Park Boys style.  BAAAAM!

At the next spot, there was another new species to be had.

Sheepshead minnow

Our next spot was salty and continued to offer us new species.  We had to get creative for the wrasse though, it took some steelhead-leaugue bottom bouncing techniques to find them.  I love it when I can apply fishing techniques from one area of the world to another!  Ken gets credit for that idea though.

Tomtate grunt

Redtail parrotfish

Blackear wrasse

I saw a massive tarpon swim by.  These things really are a tease.  Each trip down to Florida I see them and am never able to catch one.  I wish I could say that for the slippery dick wrasse, we probably caught an actual tonne of those annoying prickly buggers!

We had planned on fishing another area of lit docks that evening, but were told by security that fishing was not permitted.  Instead we got some sleep to prepare for our assail of the pier early the next morning.