The channel markers in Southwest Florida's Pine Island Sound are dependable spots to find schools of bait for much of the year. We throw cast nets there and interesting hitch-hikers show up mixed in with the shiners and pin fish we want for bait.

The black jack you see here is one of those hitch-hikers, not useful as bait. If you're not careful, you can get a good sting from the spines. But the black jack redeems itself as an excellent gyotaku subject. It has a beautiful shape and it is very flat, making it easy to paint and print without distortion of its features. Now that the fish I catch make it into paintings, I don't mind so much when these show up in my net.




You can order prints in four sizes: 5" X 7", 8" X 10", 11"X14", and signed, numbered, limited edition 13" X 19". You can special order larger sizes on canvas or on art paper. Send an email to snookpig@yahoo.com to order!