The birds and the bees - turtle style

[J.A. Veil]

Shortly after launching from the Tucker St ramp in Weems Creek this morning, I moved into a shallow cove where I began casting a Woody's feather spinner to the shorelines looking for white perch. The perch were not there yet. But on the other side of the cove, I spotted what looked like a piece of wood floating in 1 ft water depth.
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As I paddled that direction, I saw that the "wood" moved slightly ever now and then, sending out ripples. As I got close, I saw that the item in question was a large snapping turtle.

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But once I got up next to the turtle, I saw a second turtle underneath. After snapping two photos, I paddled away, leaving the turtles to their lovemaking.

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I never did find perch this morning, but fooled one pickerel into biting. Later I trolled up an 18" striper before heading back in.

[Mark]

Years ago on a fishing outing I ran into a pair of homo sapiens of the male and female variety in a wooded area engaged in the same activity as the turtles you photographed.

I pulled my canoe right past them and said "excuse me." They never even looked up.

Unfortunately this was long before iPhones and digital photography.

[chex]

Nice. Snapping turtles are cool. I used to have a pet snapper.

I think the diamondbacks are making a comeback in the bay since crab pots are now required (I believe) to have escape hatches for them.

[Mark]

I ran across this sign in Meridith Creek off Whitehall Bay during an outing last year:

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[DanMarino]

Turtle135 needs to respond to this thread.

[J.A. Veil]

Turtle135 needs to respond to this thread.

I intentionally did not capitalize the word "turtle" in the post title to avoid any misinterpretation.

[bignose]

Turtle porn!

[Capt C-Hawk]

I always heard when turtles "do it" it sounds like two hard hats banging together. Can you verify?

[Yak Fish]

Years ago on a fishing outing I ran into a pair of homo sapiens of the male and female variety in a wooded area engaged in the same activity as the turtles you photographed.

I pulled my canoe right past them and said "excuse me." They never even looked up.

Unfortunately this was long before iPhones and digital photography.

That happened to me one time. I was headed down a single lane wooded area, very private to launch my kayak when I came upon what appeared to be an unoccupied car. Turns out a couple of naked teenagers were inside. I took no photos. They moved along pretty quickly.

[J.A. Veil]

I always heard when turtles "do it" it sounds like two hard hats banging together. Can you verify?

There was no noise, and not a lot of movement either. Not like the carp I have observed spawning in shallow water. They thrash around and make a lot of noise splashing.

[bignose]

It sucks being on the bottom.
Sex once a year, and you get half drowned in the process!

[Yak Fish]

It sucks being on the bottom.
Sex once a year, and you get half drowned in the process!

I think you're doing it wrong