Big Trip to Tennessee- the Countries’ Fish Mecca

Big Trip to Tennessee- the Countries’ Fish Mecca

 Who knew, but Tennessee has more species of fish than any state in the Union-over 300. That is almost as many fish as Rhode Island has birds, and Tennessee doesn’t even have any saltwater coast.

So when Casper Cox of Chattanooga, a fellow and regional representative of the North American Native Fish Association, sent out a general invitation for fellow Fish Heads to join him for a long weekend of camaraderie and fish-related outings on June 8-11, I RSVP’d that I would like to attend. After some planning, I made it and have since returned. Although the adventure now nearly seems like a distant memory, seeing some of those fish swimming in those Tennessee waters was similar to looking at the reef fish I have spent time with in the Caribbean- as glittering jewels. I am only sorry that my photography in the following write-up won’t adequately translate their beauty.

  Because I had a little time on my hands before opening up the aquarium, I travelled to and fro from Newport to Chattanooga using buses, specifically on a new upstart and successful bus lines called Megabus that are double-deckers and whose advertising billed itself as “Ride for as Low as $1.” This requires naturally booking well in advance, and while I didn’t score the $1-fares, I did travel for three of my six legs for $8, and paid in total about $80- and that is a cheap fare.  My itinerary was Newport-Providence-New York-Washington-Knoxville from where I continued to Chattanooga by rental car. On my last day I did cross over the border to Alabama via Georgia to do a little bird watching and just to be able to say I actually went to Alabama.

Despite the super cheap fares, not sure I would do this again, as much of America also has discovered Megabus and the buses are packed. I was wedged into small seats for hours at a time.

Megabus in rainy Manhatten

Capitol from Union Station

             When I arrived in Knoxville, before picking up my car rental, I went bird watching to Sharp’s Ridge just north of downtown. From here, there was a lovely view of downtown and the distant Smoky Mountains.

Sharp's Ridge seen from downtown Knoxville

Not sure i was supposed to climb this tower...

...but the view was terrific. (Sorry, not my photo)

Then I was off to Chattanooga where I rendezvoused with the Fish Heads for a behind-the-scenes look at the breeding facilities of the Tennessee Aquarium.

Of interest was the collaborative efforts of a number of organizations for the restoration of lake sturgeon into Tennessee waterways.

Lake Sturgeon awaiting release

Towards sunset, we ate at a BBQ spot overlooking downtown Chattanooga.

The following morning, I was up at dawn and immediately descending a slope behind Casper’s house to watch life wake up on the South Chickamauga Creek. Here I watched large gars and either massive carp or buffalofish hunt directly in front of me. While watching the fish, I listened to the birds, familiar ones like wren, phoebes, and even a kingfisher, similar to the local humans, sang with a different accent.

After breakfast, we mounted up and crossed over the Georgia line (about a mile south of Casper’s house) to seine further upstream on South Chick Creek.

South Chickamauga Creek behind Casper's house

                 

                 

Here we spent the day seining and observing a rich fish fauna. Then we had a picnic.

Sunday broke with dodgy weather, but not bad enough to keep us from driving an hour east into the Cherokee National Forest and  a new watershed- the Conasauga River that flows into the Mobile River that empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Here was an incredibly beautiful snorkeling hole and the result was one of the most beautiful experiences using mask and fin that I have ever experienced.

This sign is devoted exclusivily to describing the fish at the snorkeling hole.

              Later we drove further upstream and continued to enjoy observing fish in the crystal-clear waters of the Conasauga.

Casper and Rolf snorkeling

               After nearly nine-hours of snorkeling, we called it quits and drove to a Mexican Restaurant where we hungrily devoured food sweet food.

 Driving rain prevented me from any further exploration. I made my good-byes to my new friends, explored Chattanooga for a bit, then drove for about a half-hour into Alabama where I went bird watching. Then I drove to Knoxville, where I returned the rental car and spent the rest of the day along the banks of the Tennessee River, before boarding the Megabus for the long trip home.

The Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel

               During my layover in Knoxville, one more fishy encounter. Along the Knoxville waterfront, at a moored riverboat, the "Star of Knoxville., I saw some more carp and bluegill. Later a young fisherman hopped the onboard the empty boat a caught a large carp.

In all, an amazing trip. In all I saw 44-species of fish, which is more than I have seen all year combined. Tennessee is truly the fish Mecca of America.

             My next entry will focus on the actual fish encountered during the adventure.