leatherback

anadromous5 · 07-22-2003, 08:22 AM

A question for the dogs, while fishing out of nehalem on 7/19 with petermac and friends we were amazed at sighting the largest turtle any of us had ever witnessed, a safe guesstimate @ 600 lbs..anybody else ever see these while out?thanks

Miss B Haven · 07-22-2003, 08:42 AM

You sure it wasn't an upside down car topper? :shocked:

63 degree water, Tuna dang near on the beach now Sea Turtles! Where's BILL and the Gorrillas?

OceanBlue · 07-22-2003, 08:49 AM

Yeeeeehaaaaaw!

I changed my mind... I don't think I want to go TUNA! fishing this weekend. I think I'd rather just troll around looking at all the awesome wildlife!

(did I actually say that?)

anadromous5 · 07-22-2003, 08:57 AM

Five verified viewers, this thing was huge we could hear it breathing we were within 40 yards of it,I am really curious if this is an unusual occurance around here, also saw to large sunfish within a mile of the beach,,an amazing day..lots of native silvers, 2 keepers and one nice nookie

BUGLEMAN · 07-22-2003, 09:00 AM

This happens about every other year or so and is shown on the news. They stray up hear when the water warms and then get stuck when it cools.

seasquid · 07-22-2003, 09:04 AM

anadramous5,

Of all the wildlife I have seen in the ocean during my years, the sighting of a giant turtle off Newport in 1984 or so is still the most amazing. I was fishing with a commercial buddy and we were running when I noticed what I thought was a weird acting sunfish in the distance -- we motored over to it and to our amazement it was a turtle the size of his dory -- at least we thought so at the time. We just kind of looked at each other and said wow!

The next day we called the Hatfield Marine Science Center and asked about the sighting. They said it was extremely rare to see one nearshore off the Oregon Coast.

Consider yourself lucky!

ss

DipSeaDiver · 07-22-2003, 09:11 AM

Oceanblue, I wanna go too..... :grin: :grin:

Weld, Ed, Weld!!!!!!!

salmonfever · 07-22-2003, 09:32 AM

we had pretty much the same experience about 6 or 7 years ago off Girabaldi. We trolled right up to a giant leatherback(may 6'). Boy-I suspect he got a rude awaking when the current shifted back the cold water. Haven't seen one since. that was the same year that we saw Japenese sunfish everywhere

PeterMac · 07-22-2003, 09:47 AM

I'll verify A5's sighting. This thing was HUGE! It had these cool ridges running lengthwise on it's back - looked like some freakish alien skull off star wars or something :shocked: . Great big turtle head too, the size of a small watermelon. Way Cool!

Hi doc! :grin:

PeterMac

PS Stayed at the cabin last night came in this AM, be there again tomorrow, I'll shout you out bro

!

PeterMac

anadromous5 · 07-22-2003, 12:52 PM

Hey Dogz, thanx for your feedback, hope some more of you may get to see one of these awsome critters.Peace

Shout me out Pmac

ANDYCOHO · 07-22-2003, 09:53 PM

Does anyone have a picture (that they took) of one of these turtles?

Back-Breaker · 07-22-2003, 11:17 PM

I saw 2 last year off of the Humboldt County coast, 30-40 miles out, on separate tuna trips. One had a large red/orange disc tag in its shell, I assume placed by NOAA Fisheries. The leatherbacks are listed as either threatened or endangered under the ESA.