Reminder: Take care of what has given us so much

[Big Jay]

I am posting this because I think we all need a little reminder about this subject every now and then.

Two weekends ago (i know, i've been busy, first chance i had to post) we were trolling around the 40 line inside of Spencer. We passed a ton of flotsam...boards, buckets, balloons , and the like. Earlier in the day, for no particular reason I noticed a laundry detergent jug and a crab marker buoy floating on the surface. Later on that day I spotted it once again which rarely happens. I thought nothing of it until my brother who was on the tower called out and said "Hey, there's a turtle stuck in that buoy." My brother being a professional BS'r most of the time i didn't believe him...i looked...sure enough, big ole' loggerhead caught in between the jug and the buoy.

I ran the options through my head, which was quick since there are only two. 1) Do something 2) Ignore it and let the turtle die

I went with option 1. We positioned the boat near the turtle. As we got close i noticed this was no lightweight. He was easily the size of a large garbage can lid even bigger. He tried swimming down but the couldn't against the buoys. His left front flipper was wrapped up really good in what looked to be small diameter nylon braided "crab line".

Dragging him on board was no easy task...let me tell you. I myself am 5'10" about 220 lbs and he almost took me for a swim when i grabbed the back of his shell. It took two of us to bring him on the deck, 3 to hold him down. We took our time and cut the line from his flipper. When it was all said and done, we plopped him back and the water. He took off no worse for the wear.

We examined the "gear" in which he was tangled. It was without a doubt no kind of commercial item. There was a 5 lb. window sash weight at the one end of the line. The other hung the jug and buoy. It looked to be someone's wreck or structure marker that they just left out there.

My point...folks, lets be a little more aware of the impact we make on the ocean. Paper, cardboard, wood...that's one thing. Balloons, plastic, oil, styrofoam, etc...well that's quite another situation. I myself didn't believe what they said about this sort of stuff impacting sea life until now.

Just a reminder, take care of what gives us so much pleasure and enjoyment.

[Proheat]

Very Good Point Jay!!
And well said too!!

[knot for shore]

very nice post!! this kind of effort is what really makes us who we (most of us) are! Excellent job in helping this turtle have a second chance!

i'd hate to think someone, with any kind of contious, could leave that situation unattended too!

[bwhitaker]

Glad you were able to help!

[matey8941]

awesome post....and awesome job helping that turtle out....i see baloons floating around all the time..... i will always drive by and scoop them up....its amazing how much trash it out there

[Randy Stinchcomb]

Good Job Jay, you guys did the right-thing

[SeaBiscuit]

Thanks for taking the time to do the right thing Big Jay and crew, as well as for posting this reminder for all the rest of us.
Biscuit

[Miles Offshore]

Nice job Big Jay- hate to say it but a lot of people would have taken option -2 . I commend you.