1 reply to this topic

[Eimuria]

I will be in the Crestview area come middle of December and would like to have a local who has done microfishing before locally and would be willing to assist me in the capture and prep of some local fishes for shipment to my home in Seattle after the New Year. I will be able to travel to as far east as Marianna/Apalachicola for one (possibly two) trips, but would rather stay west of Chipley (I understand the hurricane damage is still extensive, and that native habitats have likely moved due this stress). Feel free to either respond here or pm me, I will check periodically for new messages.

[Doug_Dame]

Unfortunately I'm more than 8 hrs away from to Crestview FL, or I'd try to hook up with you. Hope you find someone in the area, but offhand I don't know any native fishheads nearby. (Lots of fishheads *visit* the region, because the local fish include some neat species, but this is the less populated part of Florida.) 

 

"Microfishing" and pygmy sunfish [Elassoma] are two terms not often seen together. I haven't microfished myself (although I bought some gear), but those Elassoma are pretty teeny fishes with really teeny mouths. If I recall correctly, even Ben Cantrell whiffed on Elassoma while microfishing, and he's clearly very accomplished and skillful. A std 4x6" aquarium net is enough to catch Elassoma, if you're in the right place. Or bigger nets, of course. 

 

Speaking of Elassoma and the right place, if you can extend your combat radius, Mr. GoogleMap says that Crestview is 2:33 from Wacissa Spring, which to my mind is THE definitive go-to spot for the best-colored El. gilberti. 

 

Can't speak to the impact of hurricane damage. Haven't been in the area since then, and haven't heard from anyone who has. A species that has persisted for 50,000 years can probably survive a 100-year hurricane, but it may take some time to re-convene at any given specific historic location.

 

HTH