I've had a snapping turtle take a sunfish on my line...
- Thread starter westeyes
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float^drifter
VIP Pro Staff
lol at the guy yelling, but darn what a surprise that was. :smile:
B
Blair
Guest
Now, imagine if you were using 100 lb + BRAID line?
You just might have been pulled into that water along with the dearly departed little fishy.
Wonder what kind of shark that was? did they say?
__________________________________________
Caught this one last year at Centre Island. (In reference to the THREADS TITLE ...lol)
At first , I thought it was the Wierdest Carp I have ever had on. Couldnt figure out the Action for the life of me.
Thank God the Hook was only at the side of the mouth (Would have cut it off anyway).
Snappers can bite your whole dam finger off.
They make a real loud HISSING NOISE as well.
*At least the Kids at Centre Island got a thrill to see the Turtle.
They (Snapping Turtles) are the ONLY THING EVER that has given me the HEEBEE GEEBIES while swimming in a lake/ pond or river.
Snapping Turtle
(Chelydra serpentina)
Other names: snapper, Testudo serpentine
The snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in Canada.
Characteristics
The snapping turtle is Ontario’s most prehistoric-looking turtle species. Its long tail has a series of triangular spikes along the top that are reminiscent of those of a stegosaurus. The carapace (upper shell) is tan or olive to black in colour, has a coarsely serrated anterior (front) edge and three longitudinal ridges, and is often covered with algae. The plastron (lower shell) is very small. The maximum length of the carapace in this species is 47 centimetres.
Similar Species
Small snapping turtles may be mistaken for eastern musk turtles. The plastron of that species is also small, but musk turtles have high-domed shells and a pair of light lines along each side of the head, and lack the snapper’s characteristic tail spikes and serrated rear shell. Musk turtles reach a maximum size of only 13 centimetres. Snapping turtle nests contain up to 50 round eggs, whereas other Ontario turtle species lay oval-shaped eggs that generally number between three and 15.
Habitat
The snapping turtle occurs in almost any freshwater habitat, though it is most often found in slow-moving water with a soft mud or sand bottom and abundant vegetation. This species may inhabit surprisingly small wetlands, ponds and ditches. It hibernates in the mud or silt on the bottom of lakes and rivers, usually not too far from the shore.
Biology
In Ontario, females do not begin to breed until they are 17 to 19 years old. They dig a nest in late May or June in an open area, usually one with loose, sandy soil. The nest site is often the side of a road, an embankment or a shoreline, but the females will use almost any area they can excavate. A single clutch usually consists of between 40 and 50 eggs, which hatch in the fall. Hatchlings are two to three centimetres in length. The incubation temperature of the eggs determines the gender of the hatchlings.
Snapping turtles only occasionally emerge from the water to bask. Despite their highly aquatic nature, they do not swim particularly well and are often observed simply walking on the bottom. They are omnivorous and feed on various aquatic plants and invertebrates, as well as fish, frogs, snakes, small turtles, aquatic birds and relatively fresh carrion. Approximately 90 percent of their diet consists of dead animal and plant matter, and this species plays an important role in keeping lakes and wetlands clean. Adult snapping turtles have few natural enemies, but both hibernating and young adults are occasionally victims of opportunistic predation by otters and mink. Raccoons, foxes, skunks and opossums often eat snapping turtle eggs.
Unlike most other Ontario turtles, the snapping turtle has a very small plastron and cannot withdraw into its shell for protection when threatened. Therefore, on land this turtle’s only defence from predators is to snap repeatedly and scare them away. In water the snapping turtle rarely snaps at people or other potential threats and will simply swim away if threatened.
Threats & Trends
The threats of habitat loss and degradation do not negatively affect habitat generalists, like the snapping turtle, as severely as they affect some other species at risk. The life history of the snapping turtle, however, like that of most of Ontario’s turtle species, is characterized by a late age of maturity and a slow reproduction rate, and adults normally live a very long time in the wild – up to 70 years for many individuals. As a result, the loss of even a few adult turtles from a population every year is enough to cause that population to decline, and this makes snapping turtle populations very vulnerable to threats such as road mortality, hunting and poaching. Even though the removal of adults is a serious threat to this species, and despite the snapping turtle being a species at risk in Ontario, hunting this species is still legal in the province (the legal limit is two snapping turtles per day per person). The Ontario Multi-Species Turtles at Risk Recovery Team has strongly urged the Ontario government to remove the snapping turtle from the list of game species in Ontario but so far has been ignored.
Due to their long life span, snapping turtles bioaccumulate many toxins from their environment and, in addition to any negative effects this bioaccumulation has on the turtles, it makes them very unsafe for human consumption.
Current Status & Protection
The snapping turtle is currently listed as Special Concern under the Ontario Endangered Species Act, 2007 and Special Concern under the federal Species at Risk Act. The species has also been designated as a Specially Protected Reptile under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. These acts offer protection to individuals and their habitat. The habitat of this species is further protected in Ontario by the Provincial Policy Statement under the Planning Act. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has not assessed the global status of the snapping turtle. The species’ status was confirmed in January 2010. Additional detail about legal protection for species at risk in Ontario is available on our Legal Protection page.
Learn more about reptile and amphibian conservation and what you can do to help these species on our Reptile and Amphibian Stewardship page.
You just might have been pulled into that water along with the dearly departed little fishy.
Wonder what kind of shark that was? did they say?
__________________________________________
Caught this one last year at Centre Island. (In reference to the THREADS TITLE ...lol)
At first , I thought it was the Wierdest Carp I have ever had on. Couldnt figure out the Action for the life of me.
Thank God the Hook was only at the side of the mouth (Would have cut it off anyway).
Snappers can bite your whole dam finger off.
They make a real loud HISSING NOISE as well.
*At least the Kids at Centre Island got a thrill to see the Turtle.
They (Snapping Turtles) are the ONLY THING EVER that has given me the HEEBEE GEEBIES while swimming in a lake/ pond or river.
Snapping Turtle
(Chelydra serpentina)
Other names: snapper, Testudo serpentine
The snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in Canada.
Characteristics
The snapping turtle is Ontario’s most prehistoric-looking turtle species. Its long tail has a series of triangular spikes along the top that are reminiscent of those of a stegosaurus. The carapace (upper shell) is tan or olive to black in colour, has a coarsely serrated anterior (front) edge and three longitudinal ridges, and is often covered with algae. The plastron (lower shell) is very small. The maximum length of the carapace in this species is 47 centimetres.
Similar Species
Small snapping turtles may be mistaken for eastern musk turtles. The plastron of that species is also small, but musk turtles have high-domed shells and a pair of light lines along each side of the head, and lack the snapper’s characteristic tail spikes and serrated rear shell. Musk turtles reach a maximum size of only 13 centimetres. Snapping turtle nests contain up to 50 round eggs, whereas other Ontario turtle species lay oval-shaped eggs that generally number between three and 15.
Habitat
The snapping turtle occurs in almost any freshwater habitat, though it is most often found in slow-moving water with a soft mud or sand bottom and abundant vegetation. This species may inhabit surprisingly small wetlands, ponds and ditches. It hibernates in the mud or silt on the bottom of lakes and rivers, usually not too far from the shore.
Biology
In Ontario, females do not begin to breed until they are 17 to 19 years old. They dig a nest in late May or June in an open area, usually one with loose, sandy soil. The nest site is often the side of a road, an embankment or a shoreline, but the females will use almost any area they can excavate. A single clutch usually consists of between 40 and 50 eggs, which hatch in the fall. Hatchlings are two to three centimetres in length. The incubation temperature of the eggs determines the gender of the hatchlings.
Snapping turtles only occasionally emerge from the water to bask. Despite their highly aquatic nature, they do not swim particularly well and are often observed simply walking on the bottom. They are omnivorous and feed on various aquatic plants and invertebrates, as well as fish, frogs, snakes, small turtles, aquatic birds and relatively fresh carrion. Approximately 90 percent of their diet consists of dead animal and plant matter, and this species plays an important role in keeping lakes and wetlands clean. Adult snapping turtles have few natural enemies, but both hibernating and young adults are occasionally victims of opportunistic predation by otters and mink. Raccoons, foxes, skunks and opossums often eat snapping turtle eggs.
Unlike most other Ontario turtles, the snapping turtle has a very small plastron and cannot withdraw into its shell for protection when threatened. Therefore, on land this turtle’s only defence from predators is to snap repeatedly and scare them away. In water the snapping turtle rarely snaps at people or other potential threats and will simply swim away if threatened.
Threats & Trends
The threats of habitat loss and degradation do not negatively affect habitat generalists, like the snapping turtle, as severely as they affect some other species at risk. The life history of the snapping turtle, however, like that of most of Ontario’s turtle species, is characterized by a late age of maturity and a slow reproduction rate, and adults normally live a very long time in the wild – up to 70 years for many individuals. As a result, the loss of even a few adult turtles from a population every year is enough to cause that population to decline, and this makes snapping turtle populations very vulnerable to threats such as road mortality, hunting and poaching. Even though the removal of adults is a serious threat to this species, and despite the snapping turtle being a species at risk in Ontario, hunting this species is still legal in the province (the legal limit is two snapping turtles per day per person). The Ontario Multi-Species Turtles at Risk Recovery Team has strongly urged the Ontario government to remove the snapping turtle from the list of game species in Ontario but so far has been ignored.
Due to their long life span, snapping turtles bioaccumulate many toxins from their environment and, in addition to any negative effects this bioaccumulation has on the turtles, it makes them very unsafe for human consumption.
Current Status & Protection
The snapping turtle is currently listed as Special Concern under the Ontario Endangered Species Act, 2007 and Special Concern under the federal Species at Risk Act. The species has also been designated as a Specially Protected Reptile under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. These acts offer protection to individuals and their habitat. The habitat of this species is further protected in Ontario by the Provincial Policy Statement under the Planning Act. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has not assessed the global status of the snapping turtle. The species’ status was confirmed in January 2010. Additional detail about legal protection for species at risk in Ontario is available on our Legal Protection page.
Learn more about reptile and amphibian conservation and what you can do to help these species on our Reptile and Amphibian Stewardship page.
Brocktree250
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2012
- Messages
- 31
Now, imagine if you were using 100 lb + BRAID line?
You just might have been pulled into that water along with the dearly departed little fishy.
Wonder what kind of shark that was? did they say?
__________________________________________
Caught this one last year at Centre Island. (In reference to the THREADS TITLE ...lol)
At first , I thought it was the Wierdest Carp I have ever had on. Couldnt figure out the Action for the life of me.
Thank God the Hook was only at the side of the mouth (Would have cut it off anyway).
Snappers can bite your whole dam finger off.
They make a real loud HISSING NOISE as well.
*At least the Kids at Centre Island got a thrill to see the Turtle.
They (Snapping Turtles) are the ONLY THING EVER that has given me the HEEBEE GEEBIES while swimming in a lake/ pond or river.
Snapping Turtle
(Chelydra serpentina)
Other names: snapper, Testudo serpentine
The snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in Canada.
Characteristics
The snapping turtle is Ontario’s most prehistoric-looking turtle species. Its long tail has a series of triangular spikes along the top that are reminiscent of those of a stegosaurus. The carapace (upper shell) is tan or olive to black in colour, has a coarsely serrated anterior (front) edge and three longitudinal ridges, and is often covered with algae. The plastron (lower shell) is very small. The maximum length of the carapace in this species is 47 centimetres.
Similar Species
Small snapping turtles may be mistaken for eastern musk turtles. The plastron of that species is also small, but musk turtles have high-domed shells and a pair of light lines along each side of the head, and lack the snapper’s characteristic tail spikes and serrated rear shell. Musk turtles reach a maximum size of only 13 centimetres. Snapping turtle nests contain up to 50 round eggs, whereas other Ontario turtle species lay oval-shaped eggs that generally number between three and 15.
Habitat
The snapping turtle occurs in almost any freshwater habitat, though it is most often found in slow-moving water with a soft mud or sand bottom and abundant vegetation. This species may inhabit surprisingly small wetlands, ponds and ditches. It hibernates in the mud or silt on the bottom of lakes and rivers, usually not too far from the shore.
Biology
In Ontario, females do not begin to breed until they are 17 to 19 years old. They dig a nest in late May or June in an open area, usually one with loose, sandy soil. The nest site is often the side of a road, an embankment or a shoreline, but the females will use almost any area they can excavate. A single clutch usually consists of between 40 and 50 eggs, which hatch in the fall. Hatchlings are two to three centimetres in length. The incubation temperature of the eggs determines the gender of the hatchlings.
Snapping turtles only occasionally emerge from the water to bask. Despite their highly aquatic nature, they do not swim particularly well and are often observed simply walking on the bottom. They are omnivorous and feed on various aquatic plants and invertebrates, as well as fish, frogs, snakes, small turtles, aquatic birds and relatively fresh carrion. Approximately 90 percent of their diet consists of dead animal and plant matter, and this species plays an important role in keeping lakes and wetlands clean. Adult snapping turtles have few natural enemies, but both hibernating and young adults are occasionally victims of opportunistic predation by otters and mink. Raccoons, foxes, skunks and opossums often eat snapping turtle eggs.
Unlike most other Ontario turtles, the snapping turtle has a very small plastron and cannot withdraw into its shell for protection when threatened. Therefore, on land this turtle’s only defence from predators is to snap repeatedly and scare them away. In water the snapping turtle rarely snaps at people or other potential threats and will simply swim away if threatened.
Threats & Trends
The threats of habitat loss and degradation do not negatively affect habitat generalists, like the snapping turtle, as severely as they affect some other species at risk. The life history of the snapping turtle, however, like that of most of Ontario’s turtle species, is characterized by a late age of maturity and a slow reproduction rate, and adults normally live a very long time in the wild – up to 70 years for many individuals. As a result, the loss of even a few adult turtles from a population every year is enough to cause that population to decline, and this makes snapping turtle populations very vulnerable to threats such as road mortality, hunting and poaching. Even though the removal of adults is a serious threat to this species, and despite the snapping turtle being a species at risk in Ontario, hunting this species is still legal in the province (the legal limit is two snapping turtles per day per person). The Ontario Multi-Species Turtles at Risk Recovery Team has strongly urged the Ontario government to remove the snapping turtle from the list of game species in Ontario but so far has been ignored.
Due to their long life span, snapping turtles bioaccumulate many toxins from their environment and, in addition to any negative effects this bioaccumulation has on the turtles, it makes them very unsafe for human consumption.
Current Status & Protection
The snapping turtle is currently listed as Special Concern under the Ontario Endangered Species Act, 2007 and Special Concern under the federal Species at Risk Act. The species has also been designated as a Specially Protected Reptile under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. These acts offer protection to individuals and their habitat. The habitat of this species is further protected in Ontario by the Provincial Policy Statement under the Planning Act. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has not assessed the global status of the snapping turtle. The species’ status was confirmed in January 2010. Additional detail about legal protection for species at risk in Ontario is available on our Legal Protection page.
Learn more about reptile and amphibian conservation and what you can do to help these species on our Reptile and Amphibian Stewardship page.
That reminds me of last weekend. We saw something in the water and thought it was a fish. I put my worm in front of it and hooked it and when I pulled it up, I thought it was a branch that I had snagged before. But we finally realize that it is a HUGE snapping turtle! I got it up against a rock (because where we were fishing, the water is a bit of a drop in front of you) and I was able to shake the hook out of it's mouth. I didn't want to go anywhere near it to get the hook out. It was an ugly beast.
B
Blair
Guest
They aparently still allow people to HUNT and KILL these.
Total disgrace!
I'm no "TREE HUGGERS' .... but I just dont understand the logic of this.
When their mating (or more specifically laying eggs in the spring) ... Imagine just going up to one and clubbing it or whatever those losers do.
The big ones take YEARS to get that size.
Ugly looking but just BEAUTIFUL part of our eco system.
100's of miillions of years of Natures best.
* I know we eat animals every day (Frig I love: Beef, Chicken, Pork ..> Sea Food)
I know it may be in the Regs.
I just dont see any need to KILL these "Wild Animals" here in Ontario
Brocktree250
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2012
- Messages
- 31
I didn't harm it in any way. It just swam away. Although it did come back twice and just stared at us for a couple seconds and disappeared
westeyes
Active Member
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2011
- Messages
- 38
It enrages me that snapping turtles are still legally hunted in Ontario, even though they are considered endangered. Some of my favourite cottage moments on the dock included snapping turtles.
Here's an article from the star from back in Feb:
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1133454--ontario-snapping-turtle-endangered-yet-hunted
Back in 2010, me and a few buddies were laying on the dock, staring at the stars and we heard some soft splashes along the dock. We hit the water with a flash light, and there was a huge ol' beauty, right beside the dock, staring up at us. It was amazing to see how curious he/she was of us. It stayed for a few minutes, swimming back and forth along the dock, watching us watch it.
Maybe it just wanted some cottage friends
Here's an article from the star from back in Feb:
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1133454--ontario-snapping-turtle-endangered-yet-hunted
Back in 2010, me and a few buddies were laying on the dock, staring at the stars and we heard some soft splashes along the dock. We hit the water with a flash light, and there was a huge ol' beauty, right beside the dock, staring up at us. It was amazing to see how curious he/she was of us. It stayed for a few minutes, swimming back and forth along the dock, watching us watch it.
Maybe it just wanted some cottage friends
B
Blair
Guest
LOL... I didnt mean you! Your story was cool.
I'm talking about those who deliberately hunt or harm the turtles... no need.
Dozer
Bouts with trouts
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2008
- Messages
- 2,560
OP - wicked video, that shark looks so clean too.
RE : Snappers please be careful around them and do your best not to hold them up by their tails, it will hurt the turtle. At my friends place there is this snapper we've named Terry, he can smash 10 rock bass in a single feeding, he's been around for years, even eats Cheetos. He's so chill.
RE : Snappers please be careful around them and do your best not to hold them up by their tails, it will hurt the turtle. At my friends place there is this snapper we've named Terry, he can smash 10 rock bass in a single feeding, he's been around for years, even eats Cheetos. He's so chill.
FishingNoob
Well-Known Member
Good name for a turtle!
B
Blair
Guest
That's COOL!
"Terry" must love having you guys around.
Watch the amount Cheetos, dont want to get Terry too fat! *SMILES*
"Terry" must love having you guys around.
Watch the amount Cheetos, dont want to get Terry too fat! *SMILES*
sunny14
Bass! Pike! Muskie!
B
Blair
Guest
hammercarp
Well-Known Member
Here is a shot of one I took the other day.
B
Blair
Guest
Thanks Hammer
These snapping turtle Pics are so COOL!
Keep em coming....
and to think, the Original Post (OP) is about a shark hitting someone's fish ... lol (It was the Title!)
We definately got something going here though.
Love the Turtles another Prehistoric Survivour, deserves lots of respect.
Ancient Symbolism of The Turtle
The Turtle is an ancient symbol that represents creation, endurance, strength, stability, longevity, fertility, and innocence. The Turtle also provides protection, good fortune , and brings happiness and good omens.
One of the four Chinese sacred animals (among the dragon, the phoenix, and the unicorn), the ever adapting turtle is a creature of both land and sea and can thrive in any environment.
In Asian myth the turtle represents order and was thought to have created the entire universe from it's body parts. The heavens were formed from the shell, the earth was created from it's body and it's undershell was the underworld.
In American Indian culture, the turtle represents the caring wisdom of the ancient ones and is respected for it's protective strength.
The Turtle is considered to be the oldest, most sacred symbol of the Anishinabe and Haudenosaunee people. They believed that North America was created on the back of a turtle.
"Legend says that Father Sky's wife fell through a hole in the sky, and to keep her from drowning, little Muskrat managed to bring up a handful of soil from the bottom of the ocean; she placed it on Turtle's wide back and the land immediately began to grow, forming North America."
To this day most Indigenous peoples refer to North America as Turtle Island.
These snapping turtle Pics are so COOL!
Keep em coming....
and to think, the Original Post (OP) is about a shark hitting someone's fish ... lol (It was the Title!)
We definately got something going here though.
Love the Turtles another Prehistoric Survivour, deserves lots of respect.
Ancient Symbolism of The Turtle
The Turtle is an ancient symbol that represents creation, endurance, strength, stability, longevity, fertility, and innocence. The Turtle also provides protection, good fortune , and brings happiness and good omens.
One of the four Chinese sacred animals (among the dragon, the phoenix, and the unicorn), the ever adapting turtle is a creature of both land and sea and can thrive in any environment.
In Asian myth the turtle represents order and was thought to have created the entire universe from it's body parts. The heavens were formed from the shell, the earth was created from it's body and it's undershell was the underworld.
In American Indian culture, the turtle represents the caring wisdom of the ancient ones and is respected for it's protective strength.
The Turtle is considered to be the oldest, most sacred symbol of the Anishinabe and Haudenosaunee people. They believed that North America was created on the back of a turtle.
"Legend says that Father Sky's wife fell through a hole in the sky, and to keep her from drowning, little Muskrat managed to bring up a handful of soil from the bottom of the ocean; she placed it on Turtle's wide back and the land immediately began to grow, forming North America."
To this day most Indigenous peoples refer to North America as Turtle Island.
salmotrutta
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2010
- Messages
- 1,747
I see snapping turtles on a regular basis. Sometimes they freak me out how close they come up, fortunately I still have all of my toes.
It's very bizarre that you can legally hunt them with a fishing license.
Did you know, it takes them 19 years to reach their reproductive age?
Some of the specimens I have seen looked truly prehistoric, one in particular that washed up ashore in Bright's Grove on Lake Huron comes to mind.
Here's a small Willy snapper from this spring:
It's very bizarre that you can legally hunt them with a fishing license.
Did you know, it takes them 19 years to reach their reproductive age?
Some of the specimens I have seen looked truly prehistoric, one in particular that washed up ashore in Bright's Grove on Lake Huron comes to mind.
Here's a small Willy snapper from this spring:
B
Blair
Guest
Hey guys.
I was just reading this thread and it seems the snapping turtle has become the topic of discussion, so I decided to join in.
As kids and early teens my friends and I used to ride our bikes to a place on the Credit to fish. It is a nice deep pool with a strong current. One day standing on the island I hooked something, due to the lack of fight I thought I was dragging in a big branch in the current. When the branch got close to shore it turned out to be a large turtle. On shore we noticed it only had 3 legs and 1 stump. It was released. The next summer I again caught " Ole 3 Legs. " And then again a third summer in a row.
3 Legs was hooked in the mouth on worms twice, a snagged once on his stump leg. We managed to weigh him one of those times at 32 lbs.
They don't jump or fight much, but are quite an experience as a kid and a memory I have had for over 30 years.
Alfie.
I was just reading this thread and it seems the snapping turtle has become the topic of discussion, so I decided to join in.
As kids and early teens my friends and I used to ride our bikes to a place on the Credit to fish. It is a nice deep pool with a strong current. One day standing on the island I hooked something, due to the lack of fight I thought I was dragging in a big branch in the current. When the branch got close to shore it turned out to be a large turtle. On shore we noticed it only had 3 legs and 1 stump. It was released. The next summer I again caught " Ole 3 Legs. " And then again a third summer in a row.
3 Legs was hooked in the mouth on worms twice, a snagged once on his stump leg. We managed to weigh him one of those times at 32 lbs.
They don't jump or fight much, but are quite an experience as a kid and a memory I have had for over 30 years.
Alfie.
FishingNoob
Well-Known Member
Thats a great story! Good for you for releasing it. Cheers.
