NANFA-- The Monster Florida Fling (way long)

Rose Lawn Museum (roselawn_at_mindspring.com)
Fri, 07 Feb 2003 12:12:50 -0500

Site #15: Lake Eustis at US 441/FL 500, boat ramp at south end of lake, E.
of Leesburg

Species observed/collected included

Seminole killifish (F. seminolis) - they were huge, measuring at least 6
inches
Bluefin killifish (L. goodei)
Sailfin molly (P. latipinna)
E. mosquitofish (G. holbrooki)
Swamp darter (E. fusiforme)
Lake Eustis pupfish (C. v. hubbsi)
Fathead minnow (Pimephales sp.)
Pugnose minnow (O. emiliae)
Brook silverside (L. sicculus)
Bluegill (L. macrochirus)
Redbreast sunfish (L. auritus)
Black crappie (P. nigromaculatus)
Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

As the group gathered to resume the journey, David headed home westward,
while the rest spent the night in Ocala.

Site #16: Oklawaha River at FL 40 at boat ramp, E. of Ocala

On Monday morning, they collected/observed

Rainwater killifish (L. parva)
Bluefin killifish (L. goodei)
Golden topminnow (F. chrysotus)
E. mosquitofish (G. holbrooki)
Sailfin molly (P. latipinna)
Least killifish (H. formosa)
Dollar sunfish (L. marginatus)
Bluegill (L. macrochirus)
Brook silverside (L. sicculus)
Redear sunfish (L. microlophus)
Shiner, juvenile (Notropis sp.)
Spotted sunfish (L. punctatus)
Greater siren
1 turtle sp.

Site #17: Nine Mile Creek at Forestry Road 538, SW of Healing Waters

At that stop they netted

Banded sunfish (Enneacanthus obesus)
Everglades pygmy sunfish (E. evergladei)

Site #18: Billies Bay Branch at Forestry Road 538. SW of Healing Waters

At that location they found

Sailfin shiner (Pteronotropis hypselopterus)

Site #19: Alexander Springs at FL 445

That site was the last place that Pteronotropis welaka was taken in FL
about 20 years ago. Species observed/collected included

Sailfin shiner (P. hypselopterus)
Coastal shiner (N. petersoni)
Ironcolor shiner (N. chalybaeus)
Taillight shiner (N. maculatus)
Pugnose minnow (O. emiliae)
Brook silverside (L. sicculus)
Sailfin molly (P. latipinna)
Least killifish (H. formosa)
E. mosquitofish (G. holbrooki)
Bluefin killifish (L. goodei)
Blackbanded darter (P. nigrofasciata)
Dollar sunfish (L. marginatus)
Bluegill (L. macrochirus)
Largemouth bass (M. salmoides)
Everglade's pygmy sunfish (E. evergladei)
Pirate perch (A. sayanus)
Swamp darter (E. fusiforme)

Site #20: Beakman Lake at FL 19 at boat ramp, SW of Healing Waters

Species collected/observed included

Lined topminnow (Fundulus lineolatus)
Golden topminnow (F. chrysotus)
E. mosquitofish (G. holbrooki)
Chain pickerel (E. niger)

Site #21: Juniper Creek at FL 19 just below Sweetwater Spring, NW of
Healing Waters

At that stop they found

Dusky shiner (Notropis cummingsae)
Ironcolor shiner (N. chalybaeus)
Sailfin shiner (P. hypselopterus)
Blackbanded darter (P. nigrofasciata)
Spotted sunfish (L. punctatus)
Bluegill (L. macrochirus)
Largemouth bass (M. salmoides)
Bluefin killifish (L. goodei)
Sailfin molly (P. latipinna)
Least killifish (H. formosa)

Fritz departed at that point to make it to Jacksonville before it was time
for his conference. The group had finally dwindled to the original three
SC guys who continued north toward home.

Site #22: Small stream at FL 209, just off US 17/FL 15, N of Palatka

At that location they found

Lake chubsucker (E. sucetta)
Redbreast sunfish (L. auritus)
Spotted sunfish (L. punctatus)
Banded sunfish (E. obesus)
Redfin pickerel (E. americanus)
Golden shiner (N. crysoleucas)
E. mosquitofish (G. holbrooki)
Pirate perch (A. sayanus)

Site #23: St. Johns River at US 17/FL 15, where a small inlet crosses
under the road

Species observed/collected included

Marsh killifish (F. confluentus)
Golden topminnow (F. chrysotus)
Rainwater killifish (L. parva)
Bluefin killifish (L. goodei)
Least killifish (H. formosa)
E. mosquitofish (G. holbrooki)
Sailfin molly (P. latipinna)
Bluegill (L. macrochirus)

Finally, the weary wanderers had had enough, and decided to head for home.
What began as a neat idea turned out to be an incredible collecting trip
that provided 46 different freshwater fish species, 25 or so different
brackish species, and at least 4 exotics.

Dustin says, "I want to thank Fritz Rohde and Doug Dame for help planning
and guiding along the Santa Fe River, and Allen Boatman & the Suncoast
Killifish Society for all of their help and hospitality in the Tampa area.
I think we are all looking forward to doing this again sometime soon."

Respectfully submitted,
Steven A. Ellis
Kennesaw, GA
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