"Schlueter, Scott L LRB" <Scott.L.Schlueter-in-LRB01.usace.army.mil> wrote:
Suwannee's leaping sturgeon on record pace
Who needs "Snakes on a Plane" when you have "Sturgeons on the Suwannee?"
Regular readers will recall the recent story about the Florida Jet Ski rider
who was knocked unconscious by an airborne, three-foot Gulf sturgeon, an act
seen by more than one bass fisherman as karmic, to say the least.
Jabs at oft-maligned personal-watercraft users aside, the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Commission reports that more Suwannee River boaters were smacked
down by a flying sturgeon this past weekend, bringing to six the total
fish-related injury reports for 2006 - a record.
The Gainesville Sun reports that state officer Dorvan Daniel witnessed a
5-foot, 40-pound sturgeon leap out of the river and into a passing boat,
knocking a 9-year-old child into the water. The youngster received gashes on
her neck, while an adult on board the boat suffered a broken arm and cuts to
her legs.
The record number of incidents has prompted Florida wildlife officials to
post warning signs along the river to caution boaters about the potentially
dangerous, high-flying fish.
"We're preparing to post signs along the Suwannee at each boat ramp,
explaining the risk of impacts with these fish," said the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Commission Major Bruce Hamlin.
"We want to make the public aware that these fish are in the Suwannee and
they do jump. We recommend boaters reduce their speed to reduce the risk of
impact."
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