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Dolphin

Osprey - 3-4-2007 at 07:50 AM

Smart Dolphins

It is a widely known fact that dolphin and yellowfin tuna often feed together – act as a team to corral shoals of bait fish, keep them balled up, keep them surrounded while they pick them off. Sea of Cortez fishermen react quickly when they see herds of dolphin in the area; usually the captain speeds toward the surface action while the other fishermen ready the tuna lures, end-tackle and bait. I’ve been the captain myself since I bought a panga ten years ago and I’m used to the routine, know a lot of tricks to pick up my share of tasty, hard fighting yellowfin tuna feeding below and often ahead of the dolphin.

Spinner dolphin are the ones the fishermen are hoping to find. They are believed to be the ones most likely to be feeding with the tuna – common, white-sided, spotted, bottle-nosed and others might come upon tuna feeding so most fishermen will never pass up a few quick explorations into the surface action no matter what breed they find themselves surrounded by.

No matter what specie one encounters, if the herds are made up of thousands of animals, there will likely be lots of acrobatics as individuals leap up to survey the movement of the herd, any far-off nervous water which might signal more food. The leap-to-look routine is made necessary because echo-location becomes garbled and impossible in the middle of a huge armada of milling mammals. It seems truly amazing that these large animals can move with such quickness and grace they are able (as far as I know) to stay clear of the prop on my commercial Johnson 55 as I race through the herd trolling my deepest running feathers and tuna plugs. Hundreds ride the bow, roll up to see who has entered their world, brought them trouble and danger as they try to feed.

Beyond the little help I get from these animals when I’m fishing, I don’t really credit them with para-normal abilities, the hype about telepathy, affinity, the healing influence they have had on adults, children, the impaired, etc. As a child I never watched Flipper on T.V. and I generally change channels when a dolphin program comes on. I was mildly interested in the fact that a nearby beach resort town is now home to a large Dolphinarium and I was not in the least surprised when I learned they charge almost $170 U.S. for 45 minutes swimming around, petting the slimy things. Some friends from the states went for the hype, spent the big bucks – overall they said they enjoyed the experience but more than one person was appalled at the commercialism – they allow no cameras and charge an arm and a leg for photos of you, the dolphin and little Ricky.

About a month ago, Larry, a friend from the states, came down to visit and having heard all about the new dolphinarium, The Dolphin Delight, he was hell-bent on giving it a try. I couldn’t talk him out of it and after a nice morning ride to the resort city, a few cold Pacificos, it was he who talked me into going! Well, I knew just what to expect so we breezed right through the indoctrination. I guess I acted a little smug, being a local and all. Then it was time to get in the water.

Well, Larry went first and he was having a ball with the animals – one of the attendants helped me over the side and several of the big beasts came my way (rather menacing I can say now) and without any hesitation started nipping me. Biting, taking small chunks out of my toes, my knee; one was busy trying to untie the strap on my life jacket while two others were trying to pull me into deeper water, away from the side of the pool by pulling on the jacket. I was yipping and flailing and once the handlers saw how much blood was in the water all around me they pulled me clear and back up out of the water – two of the beasts came nipping right up after me onto the slippery lip of the big pool.

I got plenty of first aid, Larry went back in when he knew I was going to be OK, did his full 45 minutes. It took me another one hour and 40 minutes of haggling, demanding and threatening to get my $170 bucks back. Naturally the managers, the handlers swore a hundred ways that they have never had the animals act in this way, not one person had been attacked in this or any other way; they could not explain the actions of the animals and suggested it might be something about me, something I represented, some smell, some imperceptible body language, something I did that got them going.

On the drive home I took some kidding from Larry and actually took the time to think about what might have caused the attack. Could the animals have been captured around here? Could it be possible I crossed paths with these creatures while fishing? Can they just net and capture these creatures, haul them off to some fancy water park? Aren’t there laws against that?

Well, I still have my doubts about just how smart dolphin are. They are sensitive creatures, I’ll tell you that.

Halboo - 3-4-2007 at 08:52 AM

Quote:

TextBeyond the little help I get from these animals when I’m fishing, I don’t really credit them with para-normal abilities, the hype about telepathy, affinity, the healing influence they have had on adults, children, the impaired, etc. As a child I never watched Flipper on T.V. and I generally change channels when a dolphin program comes on. I was mildly interested in the fact that a nearby beach resort town is now home to a large Dolphinarium and I was not in the least surprised when I learned they charge almost $170 U.S. for 45 minutes swimming around, petting the slimy things.

They knew you were not a friend :lol:

Oso - 3-4-2007 at 09:15 AM

Another excellent example of Osprey's "creative" writing skill. :biggrin:

vandenberg - 3-4-2007 at 01:42 PM

Hey fishhawk,
They're known to scare off sharks. Maybe you had your dentures exposed and they mistook you for a great white. :?:

FARASHA - 3-5-2007 at 12:44 AM

SORRY to hear that you have been harassed Osprey
- BUT - Dolphins are known to be also RUDE and Aggressive sometimes, they can bully different species to death.
Even rape their own species - to show who's the boss (dominance).
Or just to vent frustration. They are very much like humans, and the ONLY mammals to get same stress related diseases as Humans - like Atopic Dermatitis and Asthma!

I had some encounters with them too, also in an Dolphinarium ( went there at least 3 times), and on one ocassion - I too - was tugged, and poked around and bitten ( finger). I wasn't sure if it was just an invitation to play or just being nasty. I simple swam away and ignored it. And the trainer who was around us, told me that they are sometimes nasty, upset from the crowd around them etc... So I guess that Dolphinaria are just not good for them, puts them under extrem stress - I wouldn't want to be a dolphin there either. And would probably do the same - just to P** the people off, for my peace of mind!!
I NEVER had any troubles while diving in the OPEN ocean with them, either they came close to check out, or they took off - not to be seen - just heard them.
But I know of divers who have been lost at sea ( sucked away from a strong current), that they had dolphins swimming around them and kept their company, until they were found ( after 3 days drifting). Was a big story couple years ago ( Red Sea).

Bedman - 3-5-2007 at 01:07 AM

Jorge,

I never pass any of your posts.

Thanks for taking the time and telling the/a story.

Bedman

AmoPescar - 3-5-2007 at 02:21 AM

HEY OSPREY…Regarding the Dolphins

I’ve seen the schools of Dolphins and Yellowfin Tuna swimming and working together on several occasions, and it’s an amazing site to see them working together and leaping out of the water.

Probably the most amazing sighting of this was on our first trip out of the East Cape. My son and I were fishing on a Panga and had already had a great day of fishing - small Yellowfins, Dorados, Wahoo and Sailfish - when the skipper got a radio call that the BIG school of Yellowfin and Dolphins had been found a few miles away. We raced out there at full throttle and as we reached the area, we saw an amazing site…

Every direction you looked for hundreds of yards, there were hundreds and hundreds of Dolphins and giant Yellowfin Tuna speeding along and leaping out of the water. And of course, our boat was immediately surrounded by lots of Dolphins racing along with us and crisscrossing our bow.

Our skipper positioned us in the front of the school and we tossed out live baits, which were instantly inhaled by large Yellowfins. Unfortunately, we were some what out gunned, as we only had medium weight rods and reels with us that day. My son (age 12) fought and lost a couple of big ones, and I lost 1 and successfully landed an 88 pounder.

On consequent trips, we never were able to experience a day - or trip, where we had as much fun, or as good of a day of fishing, as that one. It’s never been equaled for seeing the beauty and power of nature, or for the quantity and mixture of fish caught.

REGARDING THE DOLPHINS BEHAVIOR…
My theory is that they were able to sense some bad vibes coming from you. Many animals can sense fear and more in humans and will act or behave accordingly. Dogs are a prime example of this. They will sometimes bark or become aggressive towards certain people, seemingly for no reason at all. Human Babies will also sense something sometimes, and cry or react in other ways, only towards certain people, and again, seemingly with no reason for their behavior.

Miguelamo

windgrrl - 3-5-2007 at 07:01 PM

Thanks for the explanation about the fishing strategies. I wondered what these creatures were up to!

FARASHA - 3-6-2007 at 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oso
Another excellent example of Osprey's "creative" writing skill. :biggrin:

OPPS - i did it again - :lol:

stepped right into it - :lol:

Should know by now -

Bob and Susan - 3-6-2007 at 07:46 AM

we JUST had a discussion...

what is the most correct?

ospraaaay or ospreeee?

vandenberg - 3-6-2007 at 01:16 PM

OSPREY

Osprey

Baja Bernie - 3-6-2007 at 06:25 PM

I too can never resist your posts. I will make the observation on this one that in my past career I found that creatures imprisoned against there will could become rather testy.

Gadget - 3-6-2007 at 06:47 PM

I'll vote for the dog concept also. I saw my lover boy Labrador wake up from his daily noon nap when 2 ladies walked up to the house I was working at. One walked right by saying oh what a beautiful dog and the other stopped 15 feet away in major distress over her fear of dogs. She no more than got the words quietly out when Otis woke up in full attack mode. I had to almost tackle him. I think he would have bit her.
So sorry to hear about your ordeal Osprey, but I to think they sensed somthing. They can smell good, like a dog, and are alot smarter. Maybe they didn't like your choice of pre emersion beverage :lol:

woody with a view - 3-6-2007 at 07:31 PM

Quote:

Biting, taking small chunks out of my toes, my knee; one was busy trying to untie the strap on my life jacket while two others were trying to pull me into deeper water, away from the side of the pool by pulling on the jacket. I was yipping and flailing and once the handlers saw how much blood was in the water all around me they pulled me clear and back up out of the water – two of the beasts came nipping right up after me onto the slippery lip of the big pool.