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It's a little green in Econfina Blue Springs, but that doesn't stop these brownies from blending in along the bank.Spotted GarLepisosteus oculatusBlue Springs Recreation Area Econfina Creek Water Management Area Northwest Florida Water Management District Washington County, Florida Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark IIOlympus 14-42mm II R LensPT-EP13 Underwater Housing, PPZR-EP02 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
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While it might be a little murky, as far as spring fed rivers go, there's no shortage of things to see... Ideally, you want to spot it, before it sees you, just in case. Longnose GarLepisosteus osseusSilver RiverMarion County FloridaOlympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II14-42mm II LensPT-EP13 Underwater Housing, PPZR-EP02 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
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Christmas, Florida, United States
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I guess it figures if it can't see you, you can't see it. I thought that only worked for ostriches. Spotted GarMcCormick SpringEconfina Creek Canoe Trail,Northwest Florida Water Management District NWFWMDBay County, FloridaSeaLife DC1400
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Of course it's common to see baby and small fish school in groups for safety, but for some reason, these gar also stick together. Not only do they congregate in a certain area in the run, they huddle closely at times and move around in large groups.Longnose GarLepisosteus osseusBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
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This impressive gar spotted me approaching, and then made an easy, slow pass instead of bolting out of sight. Maybe my hair was all messed up on our first encounter of the day.Alexander Springs Recreation AreaOcala National ForestLake County FloridaOlympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
Phil's 1stPix on 500px
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This gar is snuggled in tight and isn't coming out to play anytime soon.Spotted GarLepisosteus oculatusBlue Springs Recreation Area Econfina Creek Water Management Area Northwest Florida Water Management District Washington County, Florida Olympus OM-D E-M5 14-42mm II Lens PT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
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With so many gar congregating here, you couldn't swing a dead cat in here, and not bump into one... If for some reason, you had a dead cat, and needed to prove or disprove the old saying. I'm not sure you can even swing a cat underwater, for what it's worth.Longnose GarLepisosteus osseusBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
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I'm usually pretty good at sneaking up on these gar, but this one in particular was very wary. I spotted it earlier inside the vegetation, but it bolted. Luckily, on a subsequent exploration along the bank, it came back out, and wasn't so touchy.Alexander Springs Recreation AreaOcala National ForestLake County FloridaOlympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
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Right across from the tadpole mob, this gar was tucked away in the algae along the opposite bank. It's big enough that it shouldn't have anything to fear, but maybe it just needed a little peace and quiet.Spotted GarLepisosteus oculatusGainer SpringsEconfina Creek Water Management AreaNorthwest Florida Water Management District NWFWMDBay County, FloridaOlympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
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""...To Have"This monster Longnose wasn't very cooperative, but the regular sized Gar on top was more than happy to pose for some shots while it made itself scarce. I would think that anything this big would have little to fear from little ole me.Florida GarLongnose GarAlexander Springs Creek Alexander Springs Wilderness AreaLake County FloridaOlympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom GearSea Dragon 2000 Underwater Light"
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The big noses in the Rainbow tend to stick to a particularly deep bend where they can hover in peace.Longnose GarLepisosteus osseusRainbow RiverMarion County, FloridaOlympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II14-42mm II LensPT-EP13 Underwater Housing, PPZR-EP02 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
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The water clarity at this end of the spring run isn't the best to begin with, and on a busy day, it doesn't take long for tubers, waders, and assorted splashers to muck it all up. Normally, the canopy in this section casts sunbeams down into the water, and there are usually big blotches from the dappled light.With hundreds of gar all around, not to mention some bruisers, I'm not complaining though...Longnose GarLepisosteus osseusBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
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You can see gar throughout the spring run, but they congregate in the hundreds towards the bottom of the swimming area, where water from the St. John's starts to blend in.Longnose GarBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom GearSea Life Sea Dragon 2000 Underwater Light
Phil's 1stPix on 500px
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Christmas, Florida, United States
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Of course, one or two Longnoses just have to be different and want to face downstream; it takes all kinds to make a world.Longnose GarLepisosteus osseusBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
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The water clarity in Alexander Creek downstream from the headspring isn't great, but there is plenty to see, if you can find it.This huge Longnose Gar was hiding out in the shade under some overhanging branches along the bank along with some smaller Florida Gar.Longnose GarAlexander Springs Creek Alexander Springs Wilderness AreaLake County FloridaOlympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom GearSea Dragon 2000 Underwater Light
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People go up and down the Blue Springs run on a daily basis, right through the main area that these gar tend to congregate. They tend to stay just out of reach, but as more and more boaters and floaters splash through, these Longnoses get less and less wary of the stealthy, and will hover near and pass right by.Longnose GarLepisosteus osseusBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
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Despite their impressive size, it's easy to see how these gar function in stealth mode.They must be doing something right, what with the 500 or so huge ones that populate the run. Not to mention they've been around for over 100 million years. Longnose GarLepisosteus osseusBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
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Grosse Ile, Michigan, United States
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Alligator-gar, Lepisosteus tristaechus (Bluch). Cuba.
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