Posted on 09/10/2004 8:21:32 AM PDT by SoCal Pubbie
FULLERTON Rumors swirled around Laguna Lake for 40 years that a vicious snapping turtle named "Old Bob" lurked beneath its water lilies.
Turns out the talk was not some exaggerated fish tale.
On Thursday, dredging company workers snared the 100-pound snapper near a park dam in the north-central part of the city.
A Santa Monica contractor, hired to scoop out fish during a $2 million restoration of the 7-acre lake, netted the 50-year-old, 36-inch alligator snapping turtle along with catfish, crappie and bluegills.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
Laguna Lake was the first place I ever remember fishing. I'm talking 4 years old! When I was older, we used to go there to catch crawdads and dragonflies. Never did see the turtle, though.
That's a good one!
Yeah, I fished there too. Did you ever blow up any plastic model boats there? I wonder if they dredged up any twisted wreckage of that old Lindberg model Bismark?
Turtle soup anyone?
The first couple of "snaps" are tremendously fast though. A person or dog could easily lose a finger, paw, or nose.
28 years today and counting.
I think any Gamera fans would love this!
I spent my spring break with my family at the Ocean Village resort in Florida this year. In the resort's pond is a colony of soft-shelled turtles, which are endearing-looking creatures with pig-like snouts (well-evolved for snorkeling and rooting through the muddy bottom), but which also have a reputation for a nasty bite. We regularly fed them crawfish, sandfleas, and the occasional freshly-dead crab found on the beach (they're voracious but also very picky eaters who won't eat anything that smells bad). Alas for the turtles, the bluegills in the pond would often snatch the treats from under their snouts; when this happened, they would slap the water surface angrily with their paddle-like feet.
Note: this topic is from 9/10/2004. I've seen one at least two feet across in a large inland lake, I'm sure like this one, it would taste like chicken. ;') Thanks SoCal Pubbie.
Wow, I have NO memory of posting this article!
Did they send in Sir Cort Godfrey of the Nessie Alliance to cast a protective spell over the lake and its local residents and all those who seek for the peaceful existence of our underwater ally.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.