You started another good one, Ben. I need to peek in here more often.
All these are great. Keep them coming.
The weirdest thing I caught was a Chevy.
I was stalking snook and baby tarpon in SW Florida in roadside canals in winter.
Fishing an 8 wt flyrod I made a back cast just as some tourists were driving by at about 60. Their antenna caught the fly, and in the seconds It took me to react to grabbing the line, the reel was spinning at ludicrous speed, the spool was nearing the end of the backing, and the drag burned up.
Birds:
tomharten
I caught a barred owl on a hula popper one evening in upstate New York.
I believe this, Tom; not a fishing experience, but in two different locations in Florida river swamps, I’ve watched as a big Barred Owl would swoop down and grab tiny tree frogs off the road and eat them.
AOs Eagle story.
Another bird story:
My wife and I were fishing a spot where you could catch dozens and dozens of panfish (as well as an occasional small bass) on small artificial on an ultra-light spinning rod. All, save one, were released unharmed.
One unfortunate sunfish did manage to swallow a huge grasshopper plug, and there was no hope of saving it. I dispatched the fish, freed the plug, and tried to throw the fish in nearby bushes where there were tons of fresh raccoon tracks. The fish fell short of the bushes about 15 feet away from us.
A red-shouldered hawk swooped into a tree above us and was eyeing the fish and us. I grabbed the camera and captured this weak shot after it made its move and was flying away.
I told my wife, who is a birder, "that was the rare red-shouldered osprey!"
