Like most photographers, I have a wildlife bucket list—and near the top was capturing an osprey diving for a meal. Late last year, I traveled from my home in Georgia to the southeastern coast of Florida with that goal in mind.
Armed with my Nikon Z8 and Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 lens, I set up my bag chair along an inlet, noticing the shoreline bustling with anglers. It was the opening day of snook season, and fishermen were hauling in impressively large catches. I’ll admit, there were moments I wished I had a fishing rod in one hand and my camera in the other. But better judgment prevailed—and I stayed focused, waiting for an osprey to go fishing.
Watching an osprey plunge into the water is awe-inspiring. The sheer power in their wings is remarkable—especially when they rise, soaked and heavy, with a fish clutched in their talons.
Over the course of two days, I took thousands of photos, but one frame stood out: an osprey flying straight toward me, fish in tow. Most often, these raptors fly away or veer to the side—rarely directly toward the lens—so this shot felt like something special.
It wasn’t until I reviewed the image on my LCD screen that I noticed the unexpected detail: the fish was still hooked, with the fishing line trailing behind. It had clearly been meant for a human angler, but the osprey had claimed it mid-rescue. Nature, once again, made the final call. The osprey got its meal—and at least the fisherman got his hook and line back.
