Date: August 2, 2012
by: Shanna Fortier | Community Editor

The loggerhead 65-pounds and estimated to be 10-15-years-old.

(Click “Like” to become a fan of the Palm Coast Observer.)

This female loggerhead was being an opportunist and stealing bait from the fishermen on the Flagler Beach Pier when she got a big bite that included a hook. She swallowed the hook and line, but the Flagler Beach Ocean Rescue crew saved her by going out to get her and bringing her into the shore. They then called Lori Ottlein, of the Flagler Turtle Patrol.

“She had two other fishhooks imbedded in both her front flippers which they removed for her,” Ottlein said. “They did an awesome job saving this girl.”

Ottlein later brought the turtle to the Marine Science Center where she was scheduled to have surgery to have the hook and line removed.

“A very important hint, should this happen to anyone else, is to be sure to leave about six to eight inches of the fishing line hanging out of the mouth,” Ottlein said. “Then if possible, tape the line to the top of the head so that the hook cannot go down any further and cause more extensive trauma.”

Ottlein is hopeful that this loggerhead will make a full recovery and come back to Flagler to be released, away from the pier.

“I am very proud of our ocean rescue crew,” Ottlein said.