Whimp

[mumszie]

You know I never considered my self an especially brave person but I didn't think I was a total wimp either. I am! Today I had my second scare. I'm minding my own business and finding all kinds of wire pieces, bottle caps etc. The usual. Right next to me - I could touch it - appeared a big manatee! One minute nothing and then IT WAS RIGHT THERE! I definitely am going to have to start taking extra underwear with me! This was a big one and he/she/or it had a lot of scars on his back and tail. I could have reached down and touched it but instead decided to keep to myself and move slowly towards shore. I was only about hip deep and the water was very clear. I could see the bottom. I am not sure I am cut out for this water hunting. I do know of people that have actually played with manatee's and grew up swimming with them from the time they were small children on the Weeki Wachee River but I've never been that close to one except when divided by a glass window. Now that I think back on it it was an incredible experience but I am not sure I want to repeat it. I guess if I want to hunt in the water I am going to have to get used to these little experiences. Here is my take for today. One more hoop (cheapo) earring to add to my growing collection, 2 dimes, 6 pennies and a bunch of junk. Not to good but.... it is a beautiful day, the water was great and I got to see the manatee up close.... I'll take it!

 

[aa battery]

All you had to do is introduce yourself.

 

[mumszie]

How do you do Mr. Manatee. Could you please show me where the gold its?

 

[FloridaBill]

I don't remember reading anything like person eaten by mantee lol, and all those wire pieces you are referring to are pieces of a crab trap that broke apart which is common in Florida...

 

[Montauk3]

Do like I do. I had a fear for over 50 years, due to an experience in 1957.
Every day that I work the water, I go slow until I overcome a little bit more of that fear.

I can now go chest deep with out the heart palpitations. Does that mean that I disregard awareness or safety issues? No way!

Would I spazz out if I had your experience? You could take that to the bank.

One day at a time dear lady.

 

[mumszie]

Well that sure makes me feel better. At least I know I'm not alone in my water hunting experiences! Thank you all.

 

[bootybay]

Mumzie, not to freak you out..but usually stuff happens in 3's so please be super careful.. myself, I am the biggest chicken chit when it comes to the ocean.. yet here I am hoping one of these years to be able to buy a water machine, why you ask? cause I wanna go no deeper then my knees.. why? cause I saw a shark attack when I was a kid..and I totally freaked out about it.. and I am not ms. graceful and I know I would fall and ruin my machine..hence the waterproof one I want, just to see if I can possibly find something in the SHALLOW surf.. see am a big ole chicken but not graceful at all...

I wish you the best of luck and tons of safety too

 

[FloridaBill]

Mumzie, you will get more and more comfortable as time goes on. Stick with the water. Like they said when you hunt the dry sand the jewelry store is about to open, once you enter the water the store has just opened....

 

[JOe L]

plus those HOT summer days, being in the water is great...

 

[DaChief]

Just when I posted about my manatee experience on your post about scary things, you get one also. I guess you are really glad that I didn't tell you about the underwater Martian Space Ship that abducted me and let me go two days later!!!!! OOOPS!!! Stay out of the water Mumszie! You may be their next victim!!!

 

[fldaphne]

You did everything I would have. One of the reasons I cannot get into the water past my knees is that having operated a fish market for nearly 20 years, I heard too many stories of the shallow waters where sharks were caught. And even bluefish can take a nip or two.

Your huge hoop earring looks like a match for the one I found yesterday!

I can't wait to read all about when you make the BIG find! Good luck!

 

[Montauk3]

PMP!

 

[finderzzs]

That would have been a terrific occurence, at least it wasn't a Gator!!!!! What's with all the wire? Looks like a chicken coop

 

[FloridaBill]

What's with all the wire? Looks like a chicken coop

all those wire pieces you are referring to are pieces of a crab trap that broke apart which is common in Florida...

 

[EZrider]

Mum, don't feel bad about that. I got trained to dive. All was good until i went into the deep blue and there were fish as big as cars swimming around. Waist deep for this country boy.

 

[Sam in Florida]

Manatees are big babies, just curious. I had a young one that just wouldn't go away a couple weeks ago. About 3 feet long and 150 pounds. He/She just kept watching my coil. It let me rub it's belly a few times, I finally aimed it back to the center of the river and it swam away. Nothing to fear at all, other then the initial start when you see it, I had to look to make sure it wasn't a gator.

 

[davest]

now that's the way to do it. It's been years but I've petted the wild manatees while wade fishing. It definitely gives ya a chill and an appreciation of nature. What beautiful creatures.

 

[JP]

Mumszie, don't give up on water detecting. These creatures are just curious of who we are, how lucky you are to have experienced what I did on Monday. I just wish I would have had a camera. There was no one around to witness it.

I feel that you are close to finding GOLD!! So don't give up yet. You can do it.

Good luck the next time out.

JP

 

[Montana Jim]

Excellent post!

I wish I could have that experience but in Montana the manatee removal project was finished many years ago.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

mums,

The Manatee has got to be one of, if not the most docile creature in the ocean. They are just very curious animals and will come up to you to see who you are and what you are doing. They would never ever hurt you, and you were able to experience for free what many would pay to experience.

Once I was in salt water waist deep here in Florida crabbing with nylon stockings and a net when a Manatee came up not more the 4 feet away raised up out of the water and looked me in the eye, a great experience.