Another Shark Attack in Florida

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » July 29, 2005 8:55 am

RinglingRingling wrote:
ToplessRideFL wrote:
RinglingRingling wrote:Clearwater, over on the Gulf side? do they also go on the Atlantic side?
They tend to like warm water.... yes Clearwater is on the Gulf side. But I have known folks who see them in the Atlantic. I also know friends who have seen them in some of the fresh water areas of Florida
hmmm... so about early June, Gulf side, can see them...

note to self.

I cant predict the date... but during May weekends one can usually see them..... Clearwater Beach or any of the beaches in Pinellas County (west of Tampa) seem to attrack them

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » July 29, 2005 8:56 am

ToplessRideFL wrote:
RinglingRingling wrote:
ToplessRideFL wrote:
RinglingRingling wrote:Clearwater, over on the Gulf side? do they also go on the Atlantic side?
They tend to like warm water.... yes Clearwater is on the Gulf side. But I have known folks who see them in the Atlantic. I also know friends who have seen them in some of the fresh water areas of Florida
hmmm... so about early June, Gulf side, can see them...

note to self.
I cant predict the date... but during May weekends one can usually see them..... Clearwater Beach or any of the beaches in Pinellas County (west of Tampa) seem to attrack them

even better. Not beastly hot down in the swamps.

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » July 29, 2005 8:56 am

LIPH wrote:Devil Rays are not dangerous. At least not to the rest of the teams in the American League.

Don't I know it.... and remember I am a Yankee fan!

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » July 29, 2005 8:57 am

RinglingRingling wrote: Not beastly hot down in the swamps.

The swamps are in the center of the state!

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » July 29, 2005 9:02 am

ToplessRideFL wrote:
RinglingRingling wrote: Not beastly hot down in the swamps.
The swamps are in the center of the state!

I tend to think of most of FL as swamp, except for right on the beaches. Temp-wise, it's a lot hotter in June there, inland or out, than it is here.

Basically, FL exists as one large cast on the set of "Cool Hand Luke" in my mind between April or early May, and Sept.

tikitatas · Post by **tikitatas** » July 29, 2005 9:05 am

ToplessRideFL wrote:
LIPH wrote:Devil Rays are not dangerous. At least not to the rest of the teams in the American League.
Don't I know it.... and remember I am a Yankee fan!

Unless you're Clement in the way of a line drive!!!!

Go Sox.

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » July 29, 2005 9:13 am

tikitatas wrote:
ToplessRideFL wrote:
LIPH wrote:Devil Rays are not dangerous. At least not to the rest of the teams in the American League.
Don't I know it.... and remember I am a Yankee fan!
Unless you're Clement in the way of a line drive!!!!

Go Sox.

They seem to have the unnatural ability to rise up and nail whatever Division Race contender they are playing. Playing the Mariners, or the Royals, and they s***. Put them in the park with the Twins the last couple years and they never failed to send the boys back to MSP depressed.

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » July 29, 2005 9:26 am

RinglingRingling wrote:Basically, FL exists as one large cast on the set of "Cool Hand Luke" in my mind between April or early May, and Sept.

LOL

And remind me again where you are?

Sam · Post by **Sam** » July 29, 2005 9:52 am

RinglingRingling wrote:
tikitatas wrote:
RinglingRingling wrote:
Prthd119 wrote:I floated for hours out there last Saturday and all I saw were dolphins.....

It that is meant to be my end....so be it....

I felt pretty safe....

Damn you Steven Spielberg.....
Bruce didn't see you.
Maybe Sam did.
isn't he further up the coast?

Nope I didn't see her....She is about a 45 min drive from here.

As ToplessRideFL noted there are many different varietys of rays.... not all have stingers...but quite a few that do have,There is at least one fresh water river species of them. (There is even a a specie that is electric as in electric eel....I don't know their range though.)

Yes stingrays are definitely in the Atlantic coast and all over the world including along the Atlantic coast. It is quite common to catch them off the saltwater docks or in the sounds or coastal saltwater river...when using shrimp for bait. I know of one person that got nailed by one while fishing some time ago. If one is stung by one apply heat .... Hot moist towels and seek medical treatment, as the barbs tend to break off and carry bacteria prone to infection along with the venom. The heat helps break down the venom.
They migrate too.. I think it is in the Cayman's that they have "Dive with the stingrays".

Normally the rays are quite docile and easily spooked... that is why scuffling scares them away. I posted some info on stingray "attacks" which are not really "attacks" but more of a "self inflicted" or accident...
You can go here and get alot of info on them and their range, etc:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/D ... ngray.html

Here is a picture of the stinger...it is quite brittle and will snap off.

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » July 29, 2005 10:20 am

Sam wrote:
RinglingRingling wrote: isn't he further up the coast?
Nope I didn't see her....She is about a 45 min drive from here.

As ToplessRideFL noted there are many different varietys of rays.... not all have stingers...but quite a few that do have,There is at least one fresh water river species of them. (There is even a a specie that is electric as in electric eel....I don't know their range though.)

Yes stingrays are definitely in the Atlantic coast and all over the world including along the Atlantic coast. It is quite common to catch them off the saltwater docks or in the sounds or coastal saltwater river...when using shrimp for bait. I know of one person that got nailed by one while fishing some time ago. If one is stung by one apply heat .... Hot moist towels and seek medical treatment, as the barbs tend to break off and carry bacteria prone to infection along with the venom. The heat helps break down the venom.
They migrate too.. I think it is in the Cayman's that they have "Dive with the stingrays".

Normally the rays are quite docile and easily spooked... that is why scuffling scares them away. I posted some info on stingray "attacks" which are not really "attacks" but more of a "self inflicted" or accident...
You can go here and get alot of info on them and their range, etc:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/D ... ngray.html

Here is a picture of the stinger...it is quite brittle and will snap off.

Thank you. that was informative and interesting.

Sam · Post by **Sam** » July 29, 2005 10:26 am

Welkies!

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » July 29, 2005 11:06 am

Here are some more fun facts: (taken from the Lowery Park Zoo's website)

ATLANTIC STINGRAY
(Dasyatis sabina)

Range: As far north as Chesapeake Bay, to Southern Florida and around the Gulf of Mexico

Habitat: Common in shallow waters off the coast (to depths up to 70 ft.), and often enters fresh water. Has been caught in the Mississippi River (200 miles upstream). Prefers muddy, sandy bottom. Will bury in sand to camouflage. Found alone or in small schools.

Reproduction: Breeding period is October to March. Live bearers. Litter size is 1 to 4 pups. Gives birth in mid to late summer. Gestation period is 6 months (April through August).

Dasytidae family (118 species world-wide, including the Southern, Atlantic, and Yellow Stingrays)

Normally inoffensive and flees from swimmers, but will lash vigorously with the tail if stepped on or grabbed. Spines cause painful wounds that can be dangerous because of secondary infections.

Dried spines from this family of rays are used as spear tips by native tribes.

Rays feed on a variety of bottom-dwelling organisms by hydraulically “mining,” or jetting water into sand to expose them.

bravedave · Post by **bravedave** » July 29, 2005 11:19 am

ToplessRideFL wrote:Mammal......Stingrays give birth to live young! Baby stingrays are born 3 to 5 in a litter!

TWEEEEEEET! Flag on the play.

Several non-mammal species give birth to live young including certain snakes, some sharks, and guppies.

A mammal will display most, if not all, of the following characteristics:
Live young
Mammary glands
Fur (or hairs)
Endothermic (warm-blooded)
Air breathing

Five yard penalty. Repeat first down.

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » July 29, 2005 11:27 am

bravedave wrote:
Five yard penalty. Repeat first down.

Overturned..... I stated earlier that I wasnt offering scientific reference.... Just that of my own experience. (whew that was close)

bravedave · Post by **bravedave** » July 29, 2005 11:31 am

After further review...

ToplessRideFL wrote:No scientific reasoning here...just personal experience on Clearwater Beach every year!

...the play stands. No penalty. First down.

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » July 29, 2005 11:34 am

bravedave wrote:After further review...
ToplessRideFL wrote:No scientific reasoning here...just personal experience on Clearwater Beach every year!
...the play stands. No penalty. First down.

YES...... no loss of timeout for the challange! Whew!

tikitatas · Post by **tikitatas** » July 29, 2005 12:10 pm

Sweet save, Susan!

Dave was ON you like . . . well . . . on you!

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » July 29, 2005 1:04 pm

tikitatas wrote:Sweet save, Susan!

Dave was ON you like . . . well . . . on you!

I know how Dave's are..... I am married to one so am ON my game @ all times!

Brown Eyed Girl · Post by **Brown Eyed Girl** » July 29, 2005 2:15 pm

tikitatas wrote:Sweet save, Susan!

Dave was ON you like . . . well . . . on you!

She's lucky Dave got to her before Sam or I did.

And I have to high five...or high fin Dave on that post...felt like I was watching a beer commercial...is it Bud? (So much for advertising bucks when all you can remember is the generic product).

And I don't know about the "no penalty"...she should know the difference between a fish and a mammal.

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » July 29, 2005 2:19 pm

Brown Eyed Girl wrote:
And I don't know about the "no penalty"...she should know the difference between a fish and a mammal.

Believe it or not I grabbed that off some site... and paid little attention to it... Becasue I didnt know.

But then of course I went to the Lowery Park Zoo (our Tampa Local) and got the facts straight....

And QUIT talking about me like I can't hear ya...