Lurking by mangroves,
the snapper explains his name
to shrimp and fingers.

Vegetarian
mullet eats no other fish,
and yet is eaten.

Fearsome fangs belie
the graceful delicacy
of spotted sea trout.

Beloved of snook,
annoyer of bait fishers:
The humble pinfish.

A patch of bottom
comes loose, grows fins, gills and teeth,
bites the unwary.

A cruising tarpon
sucks in what appeared to be
one misguided shrimp.

Fiddler crabs will tempt
banded bandit by pilings;
barnacles are saved!

Finny bayonets
slashing in the morning sun:
spanish mackerel!

Flash, swirl, strike and run:
scalloped silver, pink and white
redfish at sunset.

Pilchards flock in green;
suddenly a snook attacks:
showers of silver!

18 February 2009 – revised 23 September 2023