07/28/2007 - Upper Neuse River

[Jeffonc]

Got out with some family friends today for a float&fish trip down the Neuse. The river had a little extra water and color from the rains last night, but not bad.

Josh got the first fish, big fish, and most well balanced kayak fisherman trophies for this one right off the bat:




The biggest excitement came when I heard a frantic commotion in the water behind me. I turned to cast into what I expected was a LM slaughtering minnows in the shallows and instead I saw a huge snake heading up the shore with a good sized catfish in his mouth. By the time the camera got out, the snake was up the hill in the weeds, patiently waiting for lunch to stop wiggling:



Cat was at least 10", and the snake was about 3" inches thick at his middle. I imagine that'll keep him fed for a while. Not sure I'd want to swallow those barbs tho...