Crocker Reef

Out to the reef again today.  When we motored out Snake Creek (the pass out to the ocean) I knew we would not be snorkeling today.  Each of the "bubbles" you can see in this photo is a Portuguese man-of-war.  They're back.

We went out near Crocker Reef, and judging by the number of boats out fishing, I thought it would be a good day.

 I caught several small Yellowtail snapper. 

And this strange looking beast.  When he was in the water, the lower portion was bright yellow.  I think it's a Spanish Hogfish.

After we got back to the marina, I stopped at the gas dock to add a little gas (25 gallons.)  I try to plan out our usage so that we have plenty of gas for our excursions, but when we tow the boat home, it's almost empty.  (Unlike my next door Noblesville neighbor Jake who runs out of gas almost every trip out on the water.)  Also, I don't like gas sitting in the tank for long.  (Apparently, neither does Jake.)  One plus is that what we buy in marinas usually doesn't have ethanol.  While we were pumping the gas, we asked dockmaster Tim what happened to the large boat that was supposed to arrive.  He said it's still coming sometime.  They're waiting for a higher high tide.  The boat's 80 feet long.  The people who own it have recently retired, and plan to live here.  Tim said he thinks they can get it in here on a high tide without pulling the "wheels" (props) off.

When we returned to the slip, I rinsed the salt off the boat with fresh water, and the "walrus" came by for a drink.

 

Neighbors from Noblesville are coming for a visit tomorrow.  Bill and Joice have a condo in Pompano Beach, FL, and are driving down to Islamorada.  We plan to take them out on the boat for a three hour tour.