Florida Christmas 2015
Well, another year, another Christmas spent in Florida.
I had not plan for this trip. Elijah emailed me in the fall to inform me he was going to Florida for Christmas and he need fishing info. Soon, I jumped on when Michael could take time off work to join me. George was snowbirding in Florida so he planned to join us for a few days in the Keys, and we roped in my friend Bartek as well for his first real Florida fishing experience.
I had high hopes to add a number of new species, but both weather and our group wish had me scratched out a number of new species opportunities. Still, I managed to catch 8 new species from Florida. It was no small feat since I had already caught 103 new species previous from Florida, plus another 50+ saltwater species from the Western Atlantic Ocean from different states and countries.
Although the new species additions were low by my standard, the quality made up for it. The species I managed to add were very, very cool!
Spotted Scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri) - Species #477 
Spotted Trunkfish (Lactophrys bicaudalis) - Species #478 
Grey Angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus) - Species #479!!! 
Hardhead Silverside (Atherinomorus stipes) - Species #480 
Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) - Species #481! 
Ocean Surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus) - Species #482
Irish Mojarra (Diapterus auratus) - Species #483
Atlantic Stingray (Dasyatis sabina) - Species #484
I also caught a personal best Red Grouper. It was most likely an inch longer than the legal keeper minimum length of 20", but we didn't have a ruler on board and we didn't want to risk keeping a barely legal fish, so we sent it back to the reef.
Aside for the new species, I caught another 40+ species. I only photograph a fish if I needed better pictures for my life list, or if I happened to catch something rare or cool. The usual Grunts, Jacks, Snappers and such are not that cool anymore. Here are some addition "cool" species that were on my camera.
Sheepshead
Puddingwife Wrasse
Blue Parrotfish
Graysby 
Sand Perch 
Grass Porgy
Blackear Wrasse
Grey Triggerfish
Oyster Toadfish
Overall, it was a great trip to Florida that I got to spend with great friends and family. Elijah and I are already talking about Florida Christmas 2016! :lol:
And for your reading pleasure...
http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/12/2015-florida-christmas-day-1.html
http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/12/2015-florida-christmas-day-2.html
http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/12/2015-florida-christmas-day-3.html
http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/12/2015-florida-christmas-day-4.html
http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/12/2015-florida-christmas-day-5.html
http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/12/2015-florida-christmas-day-6.html
http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/12/2015-florida-christmas-day-8.html
http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/12/2015-florida-christmas-day-9.html
Madmerv
Posts: 672
Date Joined: 24/01/15
Nice Report
And top photo's to go along with it.
Well done on the new species.
Sometimes when the water is quiet, you can hear the fish laughing at you !
KenTse
Posts: 139
Date Joined: 23/11/10
Thanks! One day, I hoped to
Thanks! One day, I hoped to fish different areas of Australia and find lots of new species. Last time, I only had 3 days in Perth, and caught only 4 new species from Perth on the one day that I had time to fish (jigging for sambos and then a bit of harbour fishing after). There's still a lot I'd like to catch, and many places in Australia I would visit :) You guys have some of the top fishing in the world, no contest!
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Thank you for the pics
Thanks for the pictures of your catches, the top one looks very much like a stone fish and I would be inclined to keep well clear of it.
KenTse
Posts: 139
Date Joined: 23/11/10
Yeah, they are just as
Yeah, they are just as venomous as stonefish. I kept it on the hook while photographing it, using the line to help me position the fish. Afterwards, I used the lip gip to hold the fish while unhooking it with pliers. I wasn't going to mess around.