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A snorkeler swims in the middle of a giant school of mullet during the baitfish's annual migration along the east coast of Florida.

I Speak “Fish”

I’ve always been fascinated with fish and fishing. When I moved to Florida in 1991, I learned how to scuba dive and was immediately hooked. The next logical step – underwater photography – came in 1993, and my career went underwater (in a good way).

Like everybody else, I was initially drawn to colorful reef fish and corals. Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia beckoned. But after the novelty wore off and I gained experience, I started to pursue more unusual subjects I had only previously seen attacking an artificial lure or performing pirouettes next to a fishing boat. 

A turning point was diving the Outer Banks of North Carolina on the Caribsea, a WW2 shipwreck swarming with sharks, cobia, jacks, grouper, barracuda and amberjack, among other predators. They were grey, toothy, ugly…and super cool and charismatic! 

Gamefish are fun to observe and photograph. The advantage of being in the water with them is that most will completely ignore you if you move slowly and blend in. Patience is essential. A person underwater is intimidating, even to a shark. Pressing the camera shutter is the easy part. Everything up to that point matters greatly. 

Unlikely partners: Blacktips and tarpon hunt mullet side by side in Singer Island, FL during the annual mullet migration that takes place along the east coast of the Sunshine state late summer and early fall. ©Michael Patrick O’Neill
Largemouth bass rest in submerged vegetation in the Rainbow River, a crystal clear spring in Dunellon, FL. ©Michael Patrick O’Neill
A female peacock bass guards her fry like a little lioness in a south Florida lake. Introduced in the 1980s to control other invasive fish like tilapia, the peacock bass is a popular gamefish coveted for its fighting spirit. ©Michael Patrick O’Neill
Male yellowhead jawfish aerating a clutch of eggs on a Palm Beach, FL coral reef. This species is a paternal mouthbrooder, and the male will hold the eggs in his mouth for approximately one week to safeguard them until the fry hatch and swim away. ©Michael Patrick O’Neill

We can’t save the world, but we can all save our own little worlds.

Fish are curious. Give them a chance and they will approach. Along the way I have learned little tricks. The golden dorado, a predatory fish from south central Brazil, my home country, is aggressive and inquisitive. By gently stirring up the sandy bottom of a jungle stream I was able to lure a 15-pounder within touching distance, enabling me to take intimate portraits of the legendary predator.

Photography has the power to change the world, and it has. Obviously as photographers we strive to show the beauty of nature, but the other side of the coin is just as important. I have images of scuba divers picking up garbage from the bottom of the sea that have gone viral many times and hopefully inspired people to take better care of our environment.

While it is important to show the ugly side and the overall sad state of affairs concerning the environment, we have to strike a balance. Life is tough, and people don’t need another reason to be depressed. So we have to moderate the bad news with hope and human interest stories where people are making a difference for the better. We can’t save the world, but we can all save our own little worlds. That’s the message I like to share with my audience.

A golden dorado swims in the clear headwaters of the Rio da Prata in Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The golden dorado is an apex predator and prized gamefish that can reach almost 4ft in length. ©Michael Patrick O’Neill

Giant goliath groupers, protected for the last 30+ years, have made a remarkable comeback in Florida. Gently tapping on my camera oftentimes attracts them to the point I have to move backwards because I’m afraid it will try to inhale a strobe. They are so docile I can scratch them with my bare hand. Contrary to what you may think, their skin is not smooth and slimy, but rough like leather, I guess to protect them from the sharp rocks and coral.  

A diver swims near a goliath grouper, the largest grouper species in the Western Atlantic. Protected for more than 30 years, goliaths have made an impressive recovery. ©Michael Patrick O’Neill

Planktonic sea life photographed in the dead of night in the middle of the Gulf Stream Current during “blackwater dives” dislike flashlights with white beams. But use one with a red beam, and they sit still in the darkness, making my job much easier. 

A juvenile Mahi Mahi swims near the surface of the ocean late at night offshore the Palm Beach County, FL coastline. This species is one of the fastest growing in the ocean. If not caught or eaten by a predator, a Mahi Mahi can reach an incredible 50lbs in its first year. ©Michael Patrick O’Neill
Long arm octopus photographed during a blackwater dive far offshore Palm Beach, FL. Blackwater dives take place late at night in the Gulf Stream Current when planktonic life forms rise up from abyssal depths to feed near the surface of the ocean, only to return at daybreak. ©Michael Patrick O’Neill

With more than 3,700 dives under my belt in a wide range of environments and conditions, I’ve seen more gamefish than I can count. Many share common behaviors: They use cover to strike their prey; love current and murky water; and find surface disturbances irresistible. 

Photography has the power to change the world, and it has. Obviously as photographers we strive to show the beauty of nature, but the other side of the coin is just as important. While many species are thriving, others are not.

Pink salmon school in the Quinsam River in Vancouver Island, British Columbia as the weather starts to cool off in late August. ©Michael Patrick O’Neill
Common snook school in enormous numbers in the Jupiter Inlet, Florida to socialize and mate during the summer months. ©Michael Patrick O’Neill
A titan triggerfish is surrounded by damselfish in the lagoon of Rangiroa, one of the world’s largest atolls in the world. Located in French Polynesia, Rangiroa is a mecca for diving, fishing and water sports, thanks to its rich marinelife and ultraclear water. ©Michael Patrick O’Neill

My approach is to both show and draw attention to areas that need improvement. In my view, the most pressing problems include declining water and habitat quality. I’ve spent most of my life in Florida and am disappointed to say that over time I have seen a noticeable decline that imperils vital habitats and all aquatic life that depends on it. How bad do things have to get before we finally take a stand? 

A massive tarpon explodes out of the water as it pursues mullet during the annual mullet migration that takes place along Florida’s east coast in late summer. ©Michael Patrick O’Neill

Contributed By

Michael Patrick O’Neill

Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, Michael is an award-winning photographer, author and FAA Certified (Part 107) drone pilot specializing in marine wildlife and environmental issues. He lives in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and for the last 30 years has traveled extensively worldwide photographing diverse aquatic animals, habitats and man’s impact on them.

He has written and photographed eight non-fiction marine life books designed to encourage school children to read, write and become involved in science and conservation. They have received outstanding reviews from School Library Journal and are distributed nationally in the educational system. To learn more about his books, please visit Batfish Books.

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