Vagabonds in the Pantanal

[Elton]

My thanks to Ayjay. Just came to post on here, after Newt alerted me, but you seem to have it covered.

 

It's not the best upload system in the world, but it works once you get the hang of it.

 

I think we should consider a major forum change in 2013

[Vagabond]

 

Thanks everyone, Here as an appetiser is a picture of a spotted sorubim.

 

I am a bit busy over the next few days, but will play around with this new system and post another few pics as soon as I can

Edited November 28, 2012 by Vagabond

[Latimeria]

 

Thanks everyone, Here as an appetiser is a picture of a spotted sorubim.

 

I am a bit busy over the next few days, but will play around with this new system and post another few pics as soon as I can

 

Hemisorubim cf. platyrhynchos, but I guess you already knew that one

This is another one where it's quite possible that there's more than one species involved across the (huge) distribution, just as-yet-unrecognised.

[Vagabond]

Hemisorubim cf. platyrhynchos, but I guess you already knew that one

This is another one where it's quite possible that there's more than one species involved across the (huge) distribution, just as-yet-unrecognised.

 

Yes, I had it captioned as such in "My Pictures", and the caption got as far as the pre-posting encryption, but doesn't carry through to the thumbnail.

So I described it in the vernacular. Variation across a wide range is something you get used to when fishing across continents - it was even noticeable in the UK until people started moving fish about.

 

 

One of the first doradid catfish I caught "clamped" my long-handled artery clamps - it did not require too much imagination to realise it would be a bad place for one's fingers.

 

Will send you a pic of the "bait" tuvira.

[Vagabond]

Again, got a pic of the "Ponyfish"? Common names always lead to potential confusion, but the true Ponyfish (Leiognathidae) have an Indo-Pacific distribution. A family which is found in the western Atlantic and look very similar might be the Gerreidae, they're common in coastal areas of Brazil.

 

Quite right. I was thinking like an Australian (that will make BobJ cackle ) having caught stacks of ponyfish in Queensland estuaries.

 

I should have been thinking like a South American and called it a Mojarra (ie Gerreidae - a similar, and allied, but distinctly different family)

 

Pic on its way

Edited November 29, 2012 by Vagabond

[gozzer]

Just caught up with this thread. Thanks Dave, a great write up as usual.

Looking forward to the rest.

 

John.

[Vagabond]

.

 

A pompano in the estuary is quite a catch, they're not known for brackish water.

 

True enough, and it deserves an explanation.

 

The estuary was part of a small river - the SE coast of Brazil is backed by mountains, so despite the heavy rainfall, the rivers there are short and narrow and numerous. That means each carries a relatively small volume of fresh water.

 

This, in turn, means there is not a lot of mixing of salt and fresh water as in a large wide estuary. The main influence on water composition is tidal rather than river input. The denser salt water actually "pushes underneath" the less dense freshwater and the transition zone from salt to fresh is small.(what oceanographers call a "salt wedge" estuary)

 

I caught four species in what you might call the sea pool, a short stretch where the water was brackish and the bottom of estuarine mud. About 100 yards downstream the incoming waves broke across what was obviously a sand bar. Having caught four species over a muddy bottom, I went to try the area where mud gave way to sand, and that's where I got a few pompano. The water would be much more salty there.

[Steve Walker]

Sounds like a great trip, Dave, despite some disappointing conditions. At least you stayed in the boat this time!

[Tony U]

Dave

What a great trip report; we have justr got back from Cuba, but on this occassion the fishing was pants. Errm is still out there perhaps he has had better luck.

[Vagabond]

Here are three more of the more easily recognised catfish

 

Firstly a barbule-less cat, Palmito This was an exceptionally large ome, most are about two or three pounds. A Brazilian angler said he had never seen such a big Palmito

 

Another ladies world record we haven't bothered to claim

 

 

 

 

Below is another of Norma's fish. Striped sorubim - they can grow much bigger.

 

 

 

 

 

Below is a Jurapensem, or "Bico-de-pato" It has a very flat head like a flip-flop sandal

 

Edited November 29, 2012 by Vagabond