This was too funny

[SeaCat]

My parents came down to visit today. My father wanted to check out a fishing pier further south of us that had been nearly destroyed in the Hurricanes and had been rebuilt. Off we went.

The weather for this trip was absolutely perfect. Not too hot, dry and sunny.

While we were out on the pier seeing what the people there were catching one woman hooked an Octopus.

I watched as she pulled it up to the pier, (She had no choice in the matter.) then put it on the woodwork and just stood there looking at it. She had no idea what to do with it. Me being me I stepped forward and took over.

Grabbing the critter by the head so I could control it I used my Multi-tool to remove the hook. (It was just through the mantel.) When I had done that I asked her if she wanted it. (Some people eat them.) She told me she didn't.

By this time there was a nice little crowd gathered around. Many of them tourists who had never seen an Octopus of any size. (This one was maybe six inches across the head. Maybe two feet from tentacle tip to tentacle tip.) I allowed people to check it out while keeping them from hurting it. (Most of them were afraid to even touch it.) Meanwhile the thing was grabbing hold of me and squirming around. Finally it was time to release it.

Holding it by the head while allowing it to support itself with it's arms wrapped around my arm, (I held it by it's head so it couldn't pull close enough to get me with it's beak.) I carried it down the pier and into the surf line where I released it. Most of the tourists followed me and watched as it finally took off into the rocks beneath the pier.

A lot of the people were freaked out that I would handle something like that. They wanted to know how I could deal with it so I had to explain I was used to them. I like to play with them when I dive. (The only time I have had a problem with one was when one grabbed my mask.)

I had a lot of fun and the peoples reaction was too funny.

Cat

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Most of America has become...I hate to say the word soft, but it fits...soft when it comes to things like touching animals other than their pets. Some won't even do that when it's necessary.

I know people that even cringe at the thought of touching raw meat to make themselves dinner, let alone grab a snake by the head to move it to another area of your yard. Of course I am talking non-venomous snakes.

But my wife is a snake-o-phoebe yet she can wring a chickens neck without a problem. Skin a squirrel and gut an opossum are also in her list of things she's not afraid to do.

I on the other hand can handle snakes without being squeamish, but have trouble gutting and animal. Skinning is not a problem, it them guts I have a problem with.

Octopus wouldn't be a problem, except I don't have any experience handling them.

 

[oggbashan]

As a kid I used to free-dive to catch octopus and squid bare-handed.

They made a useful addition to my pocket-money. My parents imposed a 50% tax - any money I earned reduced my pocket money by half that amount. During most of the summer months my pocket money was nil because squid and octopus proceeds made more. In the winter I could reclaim half their summer-time deductions but I rarely did because I was earning money with other ventures.

Capital investment for octopus catching? Face mask, snorkel, flippers and bucket. I repaid the capital within two weeks.

Og

 

[LadyMondegreen]

A fisherman's tale

My parents came down to visit today. My father wanted to check out a fishing pier further south of us that had been nearly destroyed in the Hurricanes and had been rebuilt. Off we went.

The weather for this trip was absolutely perfect. Not too hot, dry and sunny.

While we were out on the pier seeing what the people there were catching one woman hooked an Octopus.

I watched as she pulled it up to the pier, (She had no choice in the matter.) then put it on the woodwork and just stood there looking at it. She had no idea what to do with it. Me being me I stepped forward and took over.

Grabbing the critter by the head so I could control it I used my Multi-tool to remove the hook. (It was just through the mantel.) When I had done that I asked her if she wanted it. (Some people eat them.) She told me she didn't.

By this time there was a nice little crowd gathered around. Many of them tourists who had never seen an Octopus of any size. (This one was maybe six inches across the head. Maybe two feet from tentacle tip to tentacle tip.) I allowed people to check it out while keeping them from hurting it. (Most of them were afraid to even touch it.) Meanwhile the thing was grabbing hold of me and squirming around. Finally it was time to release it.

Holding it by the head while allowing it to support itself with it's arms wrapped around my arm, (I held it by it's head so it couldn't pull close enough to get me with it's beak.) I carried it down the pier and into the surf line where I released it. Most of the tourists followed me and watched as it finally took off into the rocks beneath the pier.

A lot of the people were freaked out that I would handle something like that. They wanted to know how I could deal with it so I had to explain I was used to them. I like to play with them when I dive. (The only time I have had a problem with one was when one grabbed my mask.)

I had a lot of fun and the peoples reaction was too funny.

Cat

Wish I'd been there.

Octopuses (or Octopodes if you prefer) are fantastically highly intelligent. My father was instrumental in ensuring I wasn't squeamish by showing me what the fish he had caught had had for their last meal when he gutted them. The only thing I did baulk at was wading for soft crabs for him to squish and use as bait or a lure. I love crustacea and have my own pet lobster. I would have loved to have had a pet octopus (I'm sure that influence is from the Bond movie Octopussy) but I have been reliably informed by my friend who used to catch them, they don't stay in the tank. Far too intelligent and I know it's cruel.

Great recount.

I imagine you have many more stories going by your name.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Man, I am so impressed by octopuses. I have handled them in the water and in a lab and the intelligence they show can give you the shivers.

Most of America has become...I hate to say the word soft, but it fits...soft when it comes to things like touching animals other than their pets. Some won't even do that when it's necessary.

I know people that even cringe at the thought of touching raw meat to make themselves dinner, let alone grab a snake by the head to move it to another area of your yard. Of course I am talking non-venomous snakes.

But my wife is a snake-o-phoebe yet she can wring a chickens neck without a problem. Skin a squirrel and gut an opossum are also in her list of things she's not afraid to do.

I on the other hand can handle snakes without being squeamish, but have trouble gutting and animal. Skinning is not a problem, it them guts I have a problem with.

Octopus wouldn't be a problem, except I don't have any experience handling them.

You're right, Zeb. It's been that way for a long time-- my sister once was the only female roommate in a a houseful of men, and naturally, they would show up in the kitchen when she started cooking her dinner...

She learned that waving a raw chicken around would drive them right back out. It was too visceral for them.

I have never wrung a chicken's neck myself, or skinned a squirrel or gutted a possum. But I would be glad to learn those skills. Especially since the possums around here are fed on our table scraps, and I bet the taste about as good as a possum can taste!

 

[TxRad]

Man, I am so impressed by octopuses. I have handled them in the water and in a lab and the intelligence they show can give you the shivers.
You're right, Zeb. It's been that way for a long time-- my sister once was the only female roommate in a a houseful of men, and naturally, they would show up in the kitchen when she started cooking her dinner...

She learned that waving a raw chicken around would drive them right back out. It was too visceral for them.

I have never wrung a chicken's neck myself, or skinned a squirrel or gutted a possum. But I would be glad to learn those skills. Especially since the possums around here are fed on our table scraps, and I bet the taste about as good as a possum can taste!

I've cleaned, skinned, and cooked about everything around. Two things stand out. Hogs and red-eared turtles. Hogs are rank, even corn fed ones. The red-ear turtle's nick name is Stinking Jim. Any other questions.

If the Bear doesn't give you lessons Stella, come on down this way and I'll teach you the fine art of cleaning and skinning.

 

[SeaCat]

If it moves and can be eaten in North America I've probably killed, cleaned and eaten it. (Just about anything walkng on dry land can be eaten. It may not taste too good but you can eat it.)

Most things I don't kill simply because I don't need to. I don't kill for sport.

Octopi are fun and interesting to play with. They are intelligent, curious and just plain fun. If you want to keep one in a tank make sure the tank is sealed, then put a cinder block on top of the lid.

Cat

 

[JackLuis]

There just has to be a tentacle sex Bunny lurking out there somewhere.

 

[Stella_Omega]

There just has to be a tentacle sex Bunny lurking out there somewhere.

Lurking?

Dude-- its hopping up and down and waving its tentacles at you!

 

[THROBBS]

There just has to be a tentacle sex Bunny lurking out there somewhere.

somewhere.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Love the double teamed woman!

 

[LadyMondegreen]

Aah!

somewhere.

I knew I'd been subliminally effected by something on here ...

 

[oggbashan]

There just has to be a tentacle sex Bunny lurking out there somewhere.

I wrote The Giant Squid to parody tentacle sex. Some readers thought I was serious.

Og