That aint no FLOUNDER!

[CBulla]

OK - Here's the scoop. I was being typical me and laughing at the flouder that move along through the sand when a diver spooks or otherwise gives the swimming little sand pringles some reason to move. The dive yesterday was particularly amusing with small floudners being spotted right from the start of the dive under the bridge and the lights from divers being just enough to goose them out and move.

Anyway, after having a great dive watching enormous amounts of sea life doing what it does best.. fish being fish, crabs being crabs, sea horses sea horsing, shrimp shrimping, etc...., my last remaining buddy (2 flags, 5 buddies.. 3 went exploring elsewhere but didn't page me or call me... the nerve!) and I thumb the dive that is now going down on visibility and head out. The tide is now slack and actually looking at the wild life was relatively easy. Much to my chagrin my buddy, murphdivers286, and I find 'one more flounder!' So we thought!

Shining a light did nothing... poo.. watching these guys swim makes me laugh like someone tickling me!

OK.. fan the sand behind... nothing. I'm perplexed.. 'this guy is really playing opossum!' I growl.. nothing. Ruffle the sand behind.. nothing. One last big fan like I do when I'm fossiling... yup, that did it! Oh, no it didn't, he only shifted. Now, my buddy see's something I don't, remember I'm behind it. OK.. last fan, if it doesn't move with that one, grab my buddies knife, this guy's dinner! FAN.......

The sand erupts and this flounder is a SOCCERBALL that changed color to blackish with white dots, ugly face, and a TAIL! I back up fast, take a nice deep breath, and get some distance... HOKEY SMOKES! What on earth is that?!

Ahhhhhhhhh.... turns out I got to see a Northern Stargazer! Even better, I didn't touch him! ZzzzzzzzzzzzAP!

Google shows:

Yup, looks like he's a flounder doesn't he? Thats what I was looking at....​

Until he came out and changed:​

WOW! The fella we saw was a around 15-18" in length. It was an EDUCATION for sure!​

 

[herman]

I caught one of those things several years back. I had no idea what it was and it took several days to find it. Kind of neat looking and maybe I was lucky but did not experience it's more shocking features.

 

[The Chairman]

Way cool Colin. Thanks for sharing.

 

[DennisW]

Very cool. I would have nearly had to clean my wet suit after a surprise like that.

 

[maged_mmh]

how deep was it about??

 

[baitedstorm]

I did the same thing like three years ago Colin... Talk about a surprise... Good God I almost had a heart attack when the big mouth was looking me in the face... I'm soooooo glad I restisted touching it too... Oddly enough, my wild wonder happened at the same exact place as yours. Those things are soooo cool...... Adrenaline rush for free..woohoo!

 

[Wildcard]

Cool pics, thanks for sharing!

 

[archman]

You should have touched it. Then your story would be even better.

 

[CBulla]

Maged - depth was approximately 10' at popular dive location - Blue Heron Bridge

Vickie - ya think he's a resident there if we both saw ole ugly at the same place?

Archman - touched? Heh.. "don't whiz on the electric fence.." comes to mind :rofl:

 

[baitedstorm]

Vickie - ya think he's a resident there if we both saw ole ugly at the same place?

He might just be.... I to was certain it was one mother of a flounder so I kept fanning the sand away from it. I was confused when that little sucker kept going deeper and deeper, of course by then, I was waaaaaay to curious to just leave well enough alone. Like you, I was thinking....mmmmmmmmmmm, that sure would make a fantastic dinner. It really startled the beejeezee out of me, and made me laugh my butt off..