Yesterday we set out to collect in the Rio Chepo.
Its head waters begin in Lake Bayano , where on the way to the sea, it combines with the Rio Mamoni, and smaller streams like the Rio Margarita as it meanders south to its outlet in the in the Pacific ocean at Puerto Coquira.
We began at Puerto Coquira, working our way north to connect with the Pan-american highway (our road home).
At Puerto Coquira the river was raging and provided no easy access points to cast our nets, so we doubled back, searching for non-private access points.
Daniel noticed a sedate stream from the road, but when we parked it was obvious from its local cadre of tough guys, we weren’t welcome there, and moved on.
We hit to the confluence of the Chepo, and Mamoni rivers, where Saturday day-trippers were partying, so with all the ruckus, fish were no where to be found.
We finally hit the area where the Rio Margarita mixed with the Mamoni, and were able to net lots of Astyanax Tetras, a few young Gobiomorus dormitor, and 1 cichlid, an Andinoacara, but none were on my list, so all were returned to the river.
My target species for that day were Geophagus crassilabrus, Saccodon dariensus, and Gasteropelecus macuilatatus (the spotted hatchetfish).
In lieu of fish, catcing pics of the substrate gives an idea, of how the fish live in nature, so not a total waste ot time.
Some times you eat the bar, and…sometimes it eats you, so the @ $300 days collecting cost was eaten, with nothing to show.
Its head waters begin in Lake Bayano , where on the way to the sea, it combines with the Rio Mamoni, and smaller streams like the Rio Margarita as it meanders south to its outlet in the in the Pacific ocean at Puerto Coquira.
We began at Puerto Coquira, working our way north to connect with the Pan-american highway (our road home).
At Puerto Coquira the river was raging and provided no easy access points to cast our nets, so we doubled back, searching for non-private access points.
Daniel noticed a sedate stream from the road, but when we parked it was obvious from its local cadre of tough guys, we weren’t welcome there, and moved on.
We hit to the confluence of the Chepo, and Mamoni rivers, where Saturday day-trippers were partying, so with all the ruckus, fish were no where to be found.
We finally hit the area where the Rio Margarita mixed with the Mamoni, and were able to net lots of Astyanax Tetras, a few young Gobiomorus dormitor, and 1 cichlid, an Andinoacara, but none were on my list, so all were returned to the river.
My target species for that day were Geophagus crassilabrus, Saccodon dariensus, and Gasteropelecus macuilatatus (the spotted hatchetfish).
In lieu of fish, catcing pics of the substrate gives an idea, of how the fish live in nature, so not a total waste ot time.
Some times you eat the bar, and…sometimes it eats you, so the @ $300 days collecting cost was eaten, with nothing to show.
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