Today while fishing at Goose Greek Reservoir, al8995 and I saw a bottle nosed dolphin. Has anyone else ever seen one out there? The alligators were doing a great job at hiding and so were the fish.
He’s likely in dire straits if he’s in the GCR, that’s not even remotely brackish… not good for a porpoise. The only way I can think that a porpoise could get in there would be something associated with the dam— that water on the other side is definitely brackish, but it’s way lower in elevation. How on earth he made his way up the dam is beyond me… maybe he was able to make his way up on the far end of the dam. He may not be able to find his way out though.
A few months ago (late Spring) I was out there fishing and thought I saw something rather bright white swimming around in the water (looked to me like a huge white koi/carp), but because of the glare of the sun I wasn’t sure, so I shrugged it off.
“Sire, it belongs in truth to the Church of God, in whose name I speak, to endure blows and not to inflict them. But it will also please your Majesty to remember that she is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.”…Theodore Beza
I researched how the fresh water afters them and according to what I read the dolphin is definitely struggling and his/her skin with actually start to slough off. Should I report it to DNR tomorrow? He/she was in the dam area. I don’t know if a rescue is possible or not.
Do the gators bother you out there? I went once in a canoe and they kept following behind us at the 10 to 20 ft range and got closer as we fished but I would move to be safe. Also which side is the dam on and were you fishing for everything or something specific and were you live or artificial, just asking because plan to do some fishing there when I get my boat lights fixed.
17ft Key west
Definitely contact SCDNR asap please. It wont hurt anything for them to know
14’ Skiff-“Redfish Reaper”
That dolphin was really random. We only saw one gator out there and it was at a distance. I think since the water temperature dropped they are less active cause when I went out there in the summer they were every where.
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
-Benjamin Franklin
Malibu Stealth 12 with Lowrance Mark 4 Fishfinder/GPS
Perception Access Angler
I don’t see any way how a dolphin could’ve got into the GCR.
Did you ever call DNR about it?
I would have called the DNR while I was on the lake, for what it’s worth…if for no other reason than to figure out how they get in there.
BTW for the one that asked, the gators don’t bother you unless you move directly over the top of one in the shallows. In that event, you may get one thrash around you and hop on the bank and do their growl. Gator attacks on a boat are extremely unusual.
Don’t let your dog get in the water if you take him, and do NOT let him play at the shore, or HE will get what YOU deserve lol.
“Sire, it belongs in truth to the Church of God, in whose name I speak, to endure blows and not to inflict them. But it will also please your Majesty to remember that she is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.”…Theodore Beza
I did not call the DNR, but I did talk to a guide who told me that it was not that uncommon for dolphins to get into fresh water and that because they are such intelligent animals, “if the dolphin got in there it can find its way out.” He has a lot of experience so I trusted that he was right. I do wish I had called the DNR while we were out there though. If I ever see one out there again I will. I will also get pictures or video if possible to give to the DNR.