The Loggerhead turtles.

[oneighty]

Loggerheads love to eat the Blue Crab. They will tear crap pots up in an attempt to get at the crabs.

One day Trish and I ventured unwisely out into a very rough Bull Bay to work our string of crab pots. With my boat hook I grabbed up the bouy and line of the first pot in the string. I pulled the boat to the pot. The pot pulled back. Damn what is that. I heaved strongly on the pot line. A gret large Loggerhead was tangled in the pot line. The rope wrapped about his head and one flipper. He let out a great blast of air and sucked in fresh. His weight against the line and my boat turned us stern first into the waves allowing them to flood into our boat.

I could not let go, the turtle might drown, with my knife I cut the crab pot loose and started on the turtle. His great mouth was snapping at my hand as I sawed away on the rope, I finally got him cut loose with out harm.

Many crabbers kill the turtles out of pure meaness. It was at the time a ten thousand fine at the time to kill a Loggerhead.

Many years before on a diving job off Fort Lauderdale a large Loggerhead attacked my diving buddy. He was not hurt, just scared. The local divers said it was likely because it was mating season..

Beware the horny Loggerhead!

180

[JitterbugPerfume]

1. Oh my Ed

watch out

[Shakeydave]

2. Hmmmm? Bull Bay?

Charlotte Harbor? If so, I'll see you on Saturday!

[oneighty]

5. You forget

Shakydave. Bull Bay South Carolina. I have news from South Carlina that the crab business is about done. Overfishing..Rediversion of the Santee/ Cooper river system..Ruined..

[Shakeydave]

6. That's right!

We've had this discussion before! Me no longer drink on-line! :hi:

[LuLu550]

3. As a lover of turtles

I thank you for helping and not killing one of these rare and special animals! I know they get into things and make it hard for fishermen (crabbers) to do their work, but hey, they are just trying to survive!
Again, my heartfelt thanks!
:yourock:

[MuseRider]

4. Thank you for risking

a flooded boat and a bitten hand to free it. You know from your scuba diving how beautiful they are when swimming freely. It is so fun to watch them as they cruise the reef above and below. Thank you.

[oneighty]

7. I love sharing

these stories. Loggerheads were a common sight in that part of South Carolina. When they are mating they are coupled together back to front the male in back. They break the waters surface, a two headed monster. They exhale, suck in fresh air, submerge. They are lovers, as they have been for millions of years. It is so sad to see them in danger.

IMHO

[MuseRider]

8. WOW! I have never seen that!

I can remember sailing and diving and how wonderful it was to stand on the front of the boat and look for them as they surfaced. Just a big, greenish brown spot in the blue. I have never heard of one attacking but like you said it must have been mating time. I got attacked by two Remoras once but I have never seen a turtle ever even come very close for long enough to bite. Do you ever see really big ones? Most of them are pretty small anymore, at least most of the ones I have seen.

on edit Do they have a particular time of year that they mate? It must have been amazing to see them come up for air like that.

[oneighty]

9. turtles

The mating I saw was in the salt water creeks. Seems it continued all summer long. A very common sight. Yes they are huge turtles. The one off Florida hung around in one special area, about eighty feet deep. Two of our divers got a noose around his neck one day (Why? Beats me) the turtle attacked the one diver he pushe the turtle away wit the very expensive camer he was carrying. The turtle destroyed the camera. Remoras are fun. They get really close to the body but I never had one attach.I think the body temperature confuses them They look like they are grinning at you and just want to play, scare you!

[JitterbugPerfume]

10. you have seen and done

some amazing things Ed

you should tell us more

I love your little stories