PURSUIT OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS BONE FISH

Pursuit of the Illustrious Bone Fish

In the world class’ bone fishing’ scheme of things fly fishing for bone fish is thought to be the challenge with the most fun.

The veteran fishermen may like their deep sea fishing in beautiful crystal clear waters but wading in the creek in pursuit of the illustrious bone fish is yet another reason why ardent fishermen come to Salt Cay.

The slender silver marine fish is found in tropical mud flats and mangrove lagoons and share their habitat with many wading birds, clams, cow fish and often the graceful turtles.


The silver bonefish that frequent shallow waters for feeding.

Bone fish are ‘amphidromous’ which actually refers to fish that regularly migrate between fresh water and the sea living in inshore tropical waters and moving onto shallow tidal flats to feed with the incoming tide before retreating back to deeper waters.

These fast and graceful creatures are often found where the mangroves abound and of course the creeks of Salt Cay are alive with mangroves that are an integral part of the sensitive creek ecosystems.

Mangroves in East Creek Salt Cay

Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in the tropics and sub tropics. Mangroves can tolerate brackish water through pure sea water.

The unique ecosystem found in the intricate mesh of mangrove roots offers home to many organisms, oysters, shrimp and fish.

The food chain continues with wading birds and other creatures feasting on the various edibles, including the pink flamingoes which are seen from time to time hunting in the creek.

There is always the relaxing pastime of exploring the creeks in a kayak.

It is always a fun experience to gently paddle by the majestic mangroves and sit and quietly watch the varied water and bird life that grace the shores.

EXPERT ON INVASIVE BUGS AND PLANTS VISITS SALT CAY

Expert on Invasive Bugs and Plants visits Salt Cay.

Wilco Liebregis , Consultant from Six Senses Resort and Spas arrived on Salt Cay on Monday to tour the Island and check out the various invasive bugs, animals and plants that may be a threat to the delicate eco systems or indeed to the health of other plants and living species.

Nic from Pirates Hideaway revved the golf cart into action for a very bumpy ride round the coastline in search of any unusual sitings.

We checked in the old watering wells to determine the presence of breeding mosquitoes.

As we continued our tour, it did not take long to determine that a white fly was laying eggs on a particular bush on the North side of the Island which was causing many of the bushes to turn black and die. Wilco showed us by rubbing the leave which was bright green underneath.

This was very noticeable from Taylors Hill. As you looked accross the Island it was apparent that this particular white fly was taking hold. By now Nic and myself were hooked as we continued the bumpy ride to the mangroves.

As we rocked over to the Mangroves by South Creek, Wilco pointed out some of the poor health of the mangroves on the east side of the creek and gave an example on mangroves that looked healthy.

This is an example of healthy mangroves but take a look at the difference of the ones pictured on top...they are very noticeably dryer and many are dead.

At the end of the South side of the Island we examined the old drinking wells again and they were definately toxic. This is definately not a good place for cows and donkeys to drink water.

Besides all the 'nasties' there were just as many healthy specimens. There were some great pear bush all round the Island. Whose going to be the first to make some pear bush wine!

Meanwhile Nic decided to show Wilco where to find the whelks and where the oceans meet at the point of the Island.

When Wilco makes his scientific findings I shall post the information here. Meanwhile if you have any comments on strange bugs, fungus or invasive species please post something here!

NATIONAL DISH OF SALT CAY WHELK SOUP

The National Dish of Salt Cay ..The Whelk Soup

So what’s ‘cool’ about this soup? The best way to find out is for visitors to crab a bucket and a small ‘basher’ of some kind and head out for a Stroll along the rocks at low tide.

Clearly visible in the tidal pools are the beautiful tiger striped whelks clinging to the rocks usually in clusters.




Whelking in the rocky inlets and tidal pools.

Whelk is the common name used for some sea snails and it is applied to various species of medium sized to large marine gastropod mollusks that are found in temperate and tropical waters. The shells are spiral in shape and on Salt Cay can be identified by their dark speckles and lines.

But did you know that whelks are carnivores?

They eat live or dead animals which they grasp with their foot. They trap their prey usually other mollusks and bore holes with their toothed mouths into shells.
Stewing conchs is good old fashioned ‘slow cooking’. As our old folk will tell you there is no rushing ‘the pot’

Whelk soup may seem like a simple affair but it’s a hard work soup that requires hours of preparation and a lot of love!

In the old days when most locals fished for their supper they would also collect the periwinkles which scattered the rocky inlets.

In fact other islanders from Grand Turk and the Caicos Islands would call Salt Cay people ‘’Salt cay periwinkles”.

Periwinkles after which the Salt Cay residents were named

CROCK HUNTING ON LAND.

Crock Hunting on land.

This is a new sport that has taken visitors to the Island of Salt Cay by surprise. For centuries there was no such thing as a waste management system and quite often rubbish was tossed or burnt in the back yard of the old salt raker homes.

There are plenty of deserted sites where pieces of pottery and blue china can be found including old Victorian bottles many over 100 years old.Tourists and residents love to rummage around these old sites and discover these fasinating finds.

Vintage crockery is an artist’s delight because they make beautiful decoration round mirrors, lamps and inlaid in table tops.

This plate depicts the famous ‘willow pattern’ and was made in the English county of Staffordshire. Many pieces of this design is found on Salt Cay.

The pattern tells the story of a pair of star crossed lovers and such crockery arrived to Salt Cay on the steamer and mail boats from England and the Bahamas.

Vintage crockery is an artist’s delight because they make beautiful decoration round mirrors, lamps and inlaid in table tops.