Dentist hooks turtle by mistake
Pedro explained that the 2.5mm diameter hook caught the turtle superficially under its left flipper and then straightened.
There have been quite a few rare and peculiar catches on South Coast shores in the past.
Now dentist Pedro Ferreira of Southbroom can add his own tale to the list.
He hooked – and later successfully released – a 20kg turtle at Margate pier during a morning fishing session.
“To the best of my knowledge turtles don’t eat fish, especially not green turtles, which is the one I caught; or more likely, it just got caught on my line and accidentally hooked.” he added.
“I was using a live bait rig setup in the hopes of catching a kob or cobia. Very few shad have been coming out so I used a blacktail instead as live bait,” he said.
He said it was the first time something like this had happened.
“I have tussled with turtles before but never actually caught one. To be honest, I would have settled for a shark or flatfish,” he laughed.
Pedro explained that the 2.5mm diameter hook caught the turtle superficially under its left flipper and then straightened.
After a quick photo, Pedro released the turtle safely back into the sea, dodging the incoming tide, with some help from friend Nico Smith.
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