Biologists Radio Tracking Wildlife: Crayfish in West Virginia

Biologists Radio Tracking Wildlife: Crayfish in West Virginia

Guyandotte River Crayfish

How cool is that? The once thought extinct Guyandotte Crayfish is alive and well and fit with transmitters. Having two years of data, the researchers have discovered female egg laying times, how fast the crayfish grow, and how big the crayfish tend to get. The Guyandotte River is their home, including the river's tributaries. Guyandotte River crayfish are freshwater Appalachian dwellers and listed as endangered.

The geographic area where Guyandotte Crayfish live in West Virginia is shown on a map on the FWS site. Crayfish are found in AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, Puerto Rico, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, Virgin Islands, VT, WI, WV, Canada, and Mexico. Also referred to as mudbugs, the crayfish habitat is a medium or fast flowing, permanent streams or rivers on a sandy bedrock.

The Crayfish are known as seasonal omnivores, basically eating what is there at the time. The average lifespan is about 5 to 7 years with some living to 10 years. Guyandotte Crayfish mature and mate in their third year.

Guyandotte Crayfish

Monster Lobsters

Monster Lobsters How To Find Them?

"Monster Lobsters are rarely found in pristine diving conditions with good visibility.



So, where do you find these monster creatures?



Always start with the safety first school of thought and plan your dive out ahead of time. Then stick to your plan. Monster lobster have a plan of staying safe and so should you. Check your gear and the local dive shops for diving conditions.

Occasionally, you can dive across a monster lobster in a good visibility situation, but more often you will bag these monsters in very low visibility. Check areas with deep crevices and ledges to hide in. Usually about 10 to 30 feet, but this 10 to 30 feet is in low to no visibility with high surge and currents.



I have found monster lobsters under ledges with sleeping nurse sharks. The biggest one I came across was at 0 to 5 feet vision, with medium surge, in a depth of 25 feet, and an off shore swim of about 175 yards. The tools required are your hands, a bag, a tickler stick, and an extra set of hands.

When you come across a lobster hiding in a hole, if you can't get your hand in there to pull him out, you put the tickle stick under his tail and tickle him out. He will start moving forward and then once you get him, hang on. They tend to get angry and beat you with their tails. Be gentle but firm as to not break off the legs, this is the sweet meat."

READ MORE: Monster Lobsters How to Find Them

Florida East Coast Surf Fishing

Muddog357 aka Wallace Haile Google Me

Alexander The Great First Diver?

Alexander The Great the first diver? Probably not, as stated by Egyptian History of the Thebes Temple where there are the first known references to under water activities. Alexander the Great spent the better part of his last six years exploring the under sea world. Did he catch any glimpses of Monster Lobsters while he was there, possibly, but his main interest seemed to be geared toward either Atlantis or to discover exactly what he saw in 329BC. "Shining shield like objects flew in and out of the Jexartes river."




Find more information on Alexander The Great and The History of Diving

Welcome to Water UFO Research Site



The information on Diving, UFO's, Alexander The Great, History and more is incredible and actually ties in together to better your understanding and appreciation of our diving equipment today and adds a bit of explanation and mystery as well.

Muddog American aka Wallace Haile

Diving Floridas East Coast First Quarter Moon

Approaching the first quarter moon, second best time for Diving Floridas East Coast (the first being the last quarter moon)! The water will be cool, but just a bit farther south and no worries. Monster Lobsters Await. Don't Get Caught Up!

Muddog American
Photo found at NationalGeographic.com

Monster Lobsters How To Find Them?

Always start with the safety first school of thought and plan your dive out ahead of time. Then stick to your plan. Monster lobster have a plan of staying safe and so should you. Check your gear and the local dive shops for diving conditions.

Occasionally, you can dive across a monster lobster in a good visibility situation, but more often you will bag these monsters in very low visibility. Check areas with deep crevices and ledges to hide in. Usually about 10 to 30 feet, but this 10 to 30 feet is in low to no visibility with high surge and currents.

I have found monster lobsters under ledges with sleeping nurse sharks. The biggest one I came across was at 0 to 5 feet vision, with medium surge, in a depth of 25 feet, and an off shore swim of about 175 yards. The tools required are your hands, a bag, a tickler stick, and an extra set of hands.

When you come across a lobster hiding in a hole, if you can't get your hand in there to pull him out, you put the tickle stick under his tail and tickle him out. He will start moving forward and then once you get him, hang on. They tend to get angry and beat you with their tails. Be gentle but firm as to not break off the legs, these are the sweet meat.

Lobsters live in rocky areas and artificial reefs where there is an ample food supply and an easy route to deeper water for upcoming storms. They choose low visibility areas to avoid sight predators and prefer deep holes and deeper ledges.

The Spiny Lobster varies from the Maine Lobster and is quite different. They seem more rugged, quicker, and more intelligent. Maybe it is due to the water temperature that keeps them hopping. The biggest similarity is they both taste good.

Diving the ares where the monster Spiny Lobster live is not for the beginning diver. It generally involves a shore dive with limited to no visibility, light to heavy surge, and rocky, natural ledges and outcroppings.

If you don't mind the sharks at Sebastian Inlet, heavy surge and strong currents, the most famous site is Monster Hole. Many divers have bagged the big ones here. Wabasso Beach in Vero Beach will bring a few less sharks and a lot less current. If you take some time here you can bring home a monster.

Spiny monster lobsters live throughout the Florida coast and the Caribbean. There is a limited season to dive for these beauties. From April first to August fifth except for Sport Season which is the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July each year. Sport Season is special because you get to bag more than the usual daily limit of six per person per day, but may vary from year to year.

Monster Lobster are an adventure to find. Enjoy the dive, stay with your buddy, and make a planned dive and stick to your plan. Bring home your own monster lobster.

Muddog American is all about diving and bringing home the lobster. See how he has time for diving with his family.

Florida East Coast Surf Fishing