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Like most people, I suppose, I’ve always been fascinated by fish. How many of us can pass by any half-decent aquarium without at least taking a long good look at what’s paddling around inside it? Fish grab and hold our attention, much the way the dancing flames of a fireplace are impossible to ignore. I was born in Michigan, the Great Lake State, so there was certainly no shortage of freshwater fish in my part of the world. But of course that doesn’t mean I actually saw live fish very often. Unless I happened past one of those aquariums. It’s different here in South Florida. Fish seem to be everywhere. That’s especially true in Fort Lauderdale, a city with many more miles of canals than Venice, Italy.
I was reminded of this on Sunday when a friend and I went to Southport Raw Bar for a beer and some conch chowder. Southport sits on the 15th Street canal, which is the deepest canal in Fort Lauderdale. I used to live right on the water there and it was great, with all kinds of fish from small minnows to huge tarpon swimming by all the time.
On Sunday, the fish were really out in force, with schools of them stirring up the surface of the water as they fed. They created a shimmering effect, as if the wind were blowing across first one small patch of the canal, then another. I’m not sure what species of fish these were. But they moved together to form shapes – swirling into an oval, fanning out into a broad line, bunching together again into a circle. Their activity was so noticeable for so long that the fish began to attract an audience. We were among the folks who actually went down to the dock to watch. I have no idea how many fish were feeding but there were a lot. Some were very small, no larger than my baby finger. Others were the length of my hand. I kept expecting something much larger, maybe one of those tarpon, to come along for an easy meal. That didn’t happen and so, when we left, the fishy school was still going through its gyrations, still splashing through a mini feeding frenzy. We enjoyed being there to see it happen. This was a very Fort Lauderdale sight, really, a small moment connecting the creatures that live below the water with the creatures that walk around beside the water. To me, that’s part of this area’s charm. Despite the condos and hi-rises, the sidewalks and roads, nature is all around us here – if we’ll only take a moment to walk down and look for it.
I was reminded of this on Sunday when a friend and I went to Southport Raw Bar for a beer and some conch chowder. Southport sits on the 15th Street canal, which is the deepest canal in Fort Lauderdale. I used to live right on the water there and it was great, with all kinds of fish from small minnows to huge tarpon swimming by all the time.
On Sunday, the fish were really out in force, with schools of them stirring up the surface of the water as they fed. They created a shimmering effect, as if the wind were blowing across first one small patch of the canal, then another. I’m not sure what species of fish these were. But they moved together to form shapes – swirling into an oval, fanning out into a broad line, bunching together again into a circle. Their activity was so noticeable for so long that the fish began to attract an audience. We were among the folks who actually went down to the dock to watch. I have no idea how many fish were feeding but there were a lot. Some were very small, no larger than my baby finger. Others were the length of my hand. I kept expecting something much larger, maybe one of those tarpon, to come along for an easy meal. That didn’t happen and so, when we left, the fishy school was still going through its gyrations, still splashing through a mini feeding frenzy. We enjoyed being there to see it happen. This was a very Fort Lauderdale sight, really, a small moment connecting the creatures that live below the water with the creatures that walk around beside the water. To me, that’s part of this area’s charm. Despite the condos and hi-rises, the sidewalks and roads, nature is all around us here – if we’ll only take a moment to walk down and look for it.
posted by LauderBLOGGER at 5:29 PM
I am one of those people who had to "Staycation" here in Michigan this year. Don't get me wrong, this is a beautiful state,especially in summer. What you say is true, even when you are by the water, you just don't see fish very often.
So thanks for writing this blog(Green Sea,too). It reminds me of the natural beauty that exists right along side all the other fun things to do in Lauderdale. Guess I will have to be happy with living vicariously for now. Maybe a Ft. Lauderdale vacation in '09. I hope so!
Marinelife(Mary)
Hi Mary
Thanks for the nice comments. It's great to hear from you. Yes, Michigan is a beautiful state -- especially up north. But I agree that there's nothing like the sea and sun and sand (and fish!) of South Florida for a great vacation! I hope you make it back down here soon ... It would be nice to have you back!
Bob
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