05-18-2010, 11:20 AM
[cool][#0000ff]I have fished all over the country, including quite a few ponds with turtles in them. As has already been suggested the turtles are not known for attacking something larger than themselves...unless grabbed, stepped on or provoked. But they will definitely go after any fishy tidbits left in the water. Not only snappers but almost any other species of turtle too.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The only "personal encounter" I have had with a turtle was on the Sea of Cortez, while fishing from one of my old round tubes. The water in that inland sea is crystal clear and I was startled to look down on the bottom...about 30 feet below...and to see that I was casting TWO shadows. I turned around to see a large green sea turtle calmly watching me from only a few feet away. It was very close in size to my float tube. But, with my experience and basic knowledge of marine biology I was more enchanted than scared. Those turtles had become quite rare due to massive overharvest for food and turtle oil cosmetic products. I knew that they lived mostly on invertebrates and that since I had a spine (usually) I was not likely on the menu. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]My main concern was whether or not this particular creature might be in a "loving mood". With the relative scarcity of other turtles in the area it might be viewing me as a potential "date". I did not know enough about turtleology to let it know that I had a headache.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]No worries. After a few neat moments of gazing into each others eyes from only a few feet away the big turtle angled away and swam off in search of a better looking candidate for the prom.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That has always been one of the big attractions of tubing...at least for me. You really do get up close and personal with a lot of wildlife. I have lost count of the number of super experiences I have had with natures creatures while on the water in my donut dinghy...or v boat. Of course I have also had some more "interesting" encounters too...with snakes, gators and small sharks. Nuttin' serious but enough to create a laundry problem in a couple of cases.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The only "personal encounter" I have had with a turtle was on the Sea of Cortez, while fishing from one of my old round tubes. The water in that inland sea is crystal clear and I was startled to look down on the bottom...about 30 feet below...and to see that I was casting TWO shadows. I turned around to see a large green sea turtle calmly watching me from only a few feet away. It was very close in size to my float tube. But, with my experience and basic knowledge of marine biology I was more enchanted than scared. Those turtles had become quite rare due to massive overharvest for food and turtle oil cosmetic products. I knew that they lived mostly on invertebrates and that since I had a spine (usually) I was not likely on the menu. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]My main concern was whether or not this particular creature might be in a "loving mood". With the relative scarcity of other turtles in the area it might be viewing me as a potential "date". I did not know enough about turtleology to let it know that I had a headache.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]No worries. After a few neat moments of gazing into each others eyes from only a few feet away the big turtle angled away and swam off in search of a better looking candidate for the prom.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That has always been one of the big attractions of tubing...at least for me. You really do get up close and personal with a lot of wildlife. I have lost count of the number of super experiences I have had with natures creatures while on the water in my donut dinghy...or v boat. Of course I have also had some more "interesting" encounters too...with snakes, gators and small sharks. Nuttin' serious but enough to create a laundry problem in a couple of cases.[/#0000ff]
[signature]