rsimms
Well-known member
It took more than 2 months, but one of EricM's MANY big cats is now a permanent resident in the Tennessee Aquarium's Nickajack Tank. Eric caught the mighty 78-pound fish on April 9... contacted the Aquarium and they immediately met at the lake to retrieve it. The boy (or girl) has been in quarantine since. The Aquarium folks are very diligent about making sure all their fish are completely healthy and disease free before they get put on public display. Today was the day.
I coordinated with the folks at the Tennessee Wild Side TV program to do a story about Eric, his big cat and the Aquarium display. Today was "production day." We hit the water early for the video camera to capture Eric's expertise on the water. It wasn't a gang-buster morning, but we put about a dozen quality fish in the boat. We didn't bother with pictures. We were concentrating on video today. And then it was off to the Aquarium for the "Big Blue Move."
It was fascinating to watch the care and expertise of the aquariasts at work. As the Rob Mottice, the head guy said, "There's no book that tells you how to move really big fish around. We've had to learn as we go." Super soft nets, transport stretchers and lots of tender loving care was all called into play. Although at one point as you'll see below, the big guy made a big fuss as they tried to secure him in the stretcher. At the Aquarium they let Eric have the honor of releasing the big dude into the Nickajack Tank. He appeared to get comfortable real quick. Eric's is the 2nd biggest cat in the tank. Nickajack Angler and his boys came down today to get first glimpse. BTW, the fish weighed just shy of 70 pounds today. He lost a little weight in quarantine but Rob says he'll grow quick in the big tank because "they live an easy life."
I have no idea when the Wild Side TV story will air. They shoot/produce way in advance. When I know, you'll know. But for now make a trip to the Aquarium, point at the 2nd biggest blue cat in the Nickajack Tank and tell everybody in earshot, "I know the guy that caught that fish right there."
Here's a few pictures, and a short video clip, of the process and the fish... of course my favorite is the big "Release Shot." The Big Blue is staring Eric dead in the eye saying, "Hey, I know you! You're the guy that got me into this mess!"
VIDEO LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG8z7Qqlbb0
I coordinated with the folks at the Tennessee Wild Side TV program to do a story about Eric, his big cat and the Aquarium display. Today was "production day." We hit the water early for the video camera to capture Eric's expertise on the water. It wasn't a gang-buster morning, but we put about a dozen quality fish in the boat. We didn't bother with pictures. We were concentrating on video today. And then it was off to the Aquarium for the "Big Blue Move."
It was fascinating to watch the care and expertise of the aquariasts at work. As the Rob Mottice, the head guy said, "There's no book that tells you how to move really big fish around. We've had to learn as we go." Super soft nets, transport stretchers and lots of tender loving care was all called into play. Although at one point as you'll see below, the big guy made a big fuss as they tried to secure him in the stretcher. At the Aquarium they let Eric have the honor of releasing the big dude into the Nickajack Tank. He appeared to get comfortable real quick. Eric's is the 2nd biggest cat in the tank. Nickajack Angler and his boys came down today to get first glimpse. BTW, the fish weighed just shy of 70 pounds today. He lost a little weight in quarantine but Rob says he'll grow quick in the big tank because "they live an easy life."
I have no idea when the Wild Side TV story will air. They shoot/produce way in advance. When I know, you'll know. But for now make a trip to the Aquarium, point at the 2nd biggest blue cat in the Nickajack Tank and tell everybody in earshot, "I know the guy that caught that fish right there."
Here's a few pictures, and a short video clip, of the process and the fish... of course my favorite is the big "Release Shot." The Big Blue is staring Eric dead in the eye saying, "Hey, I know you! You're the guy that got me into this mess!"
VIDEO LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG8z7Qqlbb0
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