Humpback Whale rescue today

[Lawaia]

Was out looking for some bass early am and spotted a 40 ft Humpback Whale tangled in a large fish net with rope near Manasquan Inlet. We called it in on 16 to the Coast Guard, and then got in position to try and help it. We started cutting lines and net but it was really difficult just by its huge size, the amount of gear it was tangled in, and it was very stressed. At one point we thought it died. We just kept cutting rope after rope and more of the net, and it slowly began to move around and began to let out some pretty big bellows from its blowhole. After about an hour the Coast Guard and a few other boats were surrounding us as we were cutting the last line around its head area and one of the pectoral fins. Finally the lines and net were all cut and the it began to slowly start swimming away, along with taking a few big huge breaths of air. Coast Guard crew blew thier air horn a few times and gave us a cheer. Later this afternoon I got a call from a director at NOAA who was very interested in all the details as well extremely thankful. Very surreal to actually be alongside touching a creature of this size, with its huge eyes looking right at you. There is definitely a higher level of intelligence in these creatures as it almost at the end knew we were trying to help it, and sort of remained calm and still. I was definitely scared but also so excited at the same time. Awesome feeling.

(I have a lot of pics and a small short video clip but am having trouble uploading them)

[Captain Rich]

Very Cool, kudos to you !

[shrimpman steve]

Three cheers to you! Much good karma coming your way

[Joey Dah Fish]

Great job. Thanks for being that kind of person. Very prouda ya

[MVP]

Way to go Sal. That must have been quite the experience. Good Karma will come your way. You will need to fill me in next time we hook up

[NoLimit]

Another reason to stops draggers
Nets for fish farms - not dragging

[njfisherman1975]

Once in a lifetime experience...great job!!!

[dakota560]

Incredible story, great job! Too many stories regarding the intelligence levels these mammals possess to think there's not more to it. That whale could have crushed your boat with one swipe of it's tail, don't think for a minute it didn't know you were there to help it out. Sad to see such a majestic creature is still in areas of the world being harvested. Moby Dick had a point! If you can figure out how to load the video that would be great, would love to see it and I'm sure many others would as well!

[NJ Dave]

That's awesome. Great job

[Pennsy Guy]

Great story, good for you. You can expect good things throughout the year-not only on the water, but on the land as well...

[hforce1]

There are no coincidences in life.
Stand up move.
Inspirational.

[Lawaia]

[QUOTE=MVP;446516]Way to go Sal. That must have been quite the experience. Good Karma will come your way. You will need to fill me in next time we hook up[/QUOTE

I will Alex. I'm going to send you the pictures and video I took if you can post them for me.

[Papasown]

Congrats to you and your crew., for taking on that task that could have been dangerous. It is amazing ,to think that this huge creature didn't feel threatened.

YOU GO GUYS !!

[hammer4reel]

Congrats on a job well done.
that had to be incredible getting to see it swim away

[stevelikes2fish]

My hats off to you. What a great, once in a lifetime event. Outstanding task!

[Gerry Zagorski]

Wow a once in a lifetime experience for sure and good thing for the whale he ran into a quick thinking fearless guy like you to cut those nets away.

You can't upload a video here but what you can do is upload it to YouTube and copy and paste the link in your post.

Thanks for sharing you story here and congrats on the release :D

[Lawaia]

https://www.facebook.com/sal.gatto.90/videos/10209583176401552/

[Lawaia]

Alex MVP is going to post some pictures for me later today.

[HerringKing]

Nice job! That's really cool

[howarda780]

Great job. That must have been exciting to see her swim away.

[Dan McGivney]

Great Job on the rescue, once in a lifetime experience..

[bhackemup]

I think "NO LIMIT" might be jumping to a conclusion, but it would be interesting to know more about what kinds of rope, or netting the whale was tangled in? Great job freeing that whale though, that is really cool!

[tinboat]

Wow, nice job!

[Gerry Zagorski]

I think "NO LIMIT" might be jumping to a conclusion, but it would be interesting to know more about what kinds of rope, or netting the whale was tangled in? Great job freeing that whale though, that is really cool!

I've heard from a very reliable source that the gill netters are working in close to the beach well within 3 mile limit which they are not allowed to do. If those gill nets which are normally on the bottom and in deeper water are set in shallower water this could have been the cause.

For those of you fishing, if you see some high flyers close in and are trolling you need to watch you don't snag them...

[Topeka Boy]

A Job Well Done! :D

[DirtyChimneyMan]

Right place right time Great that you rushed to its aid. Even greater will be what comes back to you someday. Kudos!!

[Mgas24]

I can only say Awesome! Well Done!

[MVP]

Enclosed are a few pictures of whale prior to rescue. If you look closely you can see endangered dogfish entangled in net with whale.

[MVP]

Closeup

[billfish16]

Great job! Thank you!

[Sullivan]

You are a hero ! It's a wonderful thing you did .

[dakota560]

Just a really great story and GREAT job taking a chance to do the right thing. Nets are indiscriminate killers, great to see this story have a positive ending! Kudos to the captain and crew again who pulled it off, you created a memory of a lifetime!!!!!

[CadiShackFishing]

Job well done!!!

[Gobigblue]

The sea was angry my friend like an old man trying send soup back at a deli. A wave sent my on top of the huge fish, Mammal. I was eye to eye with him when I saw the obstruction. I reached in to its blow hole and I pulled out the obstruction. Is that a Titelist?:D:D:D:D:D

[NoLimit]

I think "NO LIMIT" might be jumping to a conclusion, but it would be interesting to know more about what kinds of rope, or netting the whale was tangled in? Great job freeing that whale though, that is really cool!

What difference does it make what type of net? The issue is that nets are indiscriminate and now we see the by catch includes dead whales.

[flyersnfluke]

Awesome Job!!!!! Hats off to you and your crew for dealing with that.

[Canyon Runner]

That's awesome - way to go!

[fishfishfish]

Great job i Love it

[gnuisance]

we were slaughtering these animals 200 years ago. Luckily they have really rebounded. That's a cool thing you did today.

[abbashaya]

great job, thats what good fishermen are all about.

[Capt. Lou]

Great job guys above & beyond what most would do , hats off !!

[Skunk City]

Well this is a better story than the one that went viral a few weeks ago :eek:.

Great job.

[Hunter 2]

Thank you !
Most fisherman are good people willing to help others.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Beautiful story! Thank god you saw the poor thing and was able to save his life.:)

[CaptMarc]

Good karma will come your way. True fisherman.

[woody]

They just shared there story on Fox 5 news. Such a great story. I have shared it with a lot of my friends as well.

[phil]

Enclosed are a few pictures of whale prior to rescue. If you look closely you can see endangered dogfish entangled in net with whale.

"endangered" dogfish, surely you jest?

[NoLimit]

Other pics online show a sturgeon in the net, too.