A Dolphin in Trouble

Where we are

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  Lostman's River — The destination. 'A river inside a bay inside a gulf.' The Sea Belle beached on an oyster bar near the mouth, Ch. 11–18.

Every place in the book, painted →

Fish in this chapter

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  Redfish (red drum, 'spot-tail') The first keeper Matt ever caught, at Comer Key. Rose's cooler-toppling redfish at the marina. The 22- and… Ch. 2Ch. 3Ch. 7Ch. 8 +1
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  Grouper (goliath / gag) Matt's favorite eating fish. The 'unseen giant' that dragged the anchored Bonefisher across the channel; the… Ch. 2Ch. 3Ch. 13Ch. 14 +2
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  Spotted seatrout 'Grass bed fishing meant trout.' Three keepers on the first client trip; Dave's trout off Little Pavilion Key. Ch. 2Ch. 3Ch. 7Ch. 16 +1
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  Hammerhead shark Arrives at the ghost net while Matt is freeing the baby dolphin; driven off by the mother dolphin. Ch. 16

Crew in this chapter

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  Matthew 'Matt' Creek protagonist Ch. 1
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  Snapper Dan's neighbor, retired guide Ch. 2
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  Doc Brown Old fishing guide and retired Navy physician Ch. 16

Critters in this chapter

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  Bottlenose dolphin The playful pair at Lopez River; the mother who rams the hammerhead and bites her calf free of the net. Ch. 3Ch. 16
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  Sharks of the Ten Thousand Islands The 'Mako' on the beach at Comer Key; the hammerhead at the ghost net. Ch. 8Ch. 16
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  Abandoned fishing nets Catches Matt's foot in the storm and the baby dolphin the next day. Ch. 12Ch. 16
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  Sand fleas Ch. 16
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  Gnats / no-see-ums Ch. 16

Boats in this chapter

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  The Sea Belle Houseboat Ch. 2Ch. 10Ch. 11Ch. 12 +7
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  Doc's skiff Small aluminum boat Ch. 16Ch. 17Ch. 18

From the tackle box

Popping cork

A float with a cupped top; tug every few seconds and it 'pops' to call fish to the shrimp dangling beneath. How Matt caught his first snook and most redfish.

Reading the tide

Fish the hour either side of high tide; 'morning high' means plenty of water over the oyster bars. Dan: the water isn't rising, the earth is turning through bulges of water pulled by sun and moon.

Snorkel, fins, pocketknife

Matt's dolphin-rescue kit.