Mangel Muckabout

Meanwhile, out in the Gulf ...

Let's go into a mangel. (That's your new word for the day ... well, not you Thingfish). To get there, we'll need to wade up this sweet little tidal creek from the beach and into the mangrove forest (mangel!).

Watch your step. The creek is loaded with small molluscs and crustaceans and the stingrays will sometimes lie in the current slurping food off the bottom. Shuffle your feet a little as you walk. If you bump one from the side, he'll just scoot between your legs ... if you bring your foot down on one, he'll drive that poison slime coated tail barb into your foot.

Yes, right through your sneakers.

I know.

This creek is full of breeding killifish (mudminnows), mostly Gulf and Longnose killis. Wonderful little fish. So tough.

I admire that.

Excellent flounder bait also.

I really admire that.

Okay, we're here. These are black mangroves. See the pneumatophores sticking up out of the muck? Think of those as root snorkels.

These blacks are tolerant of cold so they are dominant here in Pure Florida. The wimpier reds and whites live farther south in ... South Florida. They're the ones with the fancy twisty prop roots.

We don't go in for that flashy "look at my convoluted root system" stuff up here in North Florida.

Let's go in.

What was that?

Not me, that thing that went zipping along the overhead branches.

No, there aren't any squirrels out here on this island.

Let's push on.

Can you walk a little quieter?

TO BE CONTINUED ...