We went out at Blackrock hoping to find a turtle that had been reported entangled with hook and fishing gear. We encountered eagle rays in our search. Initially there were 5 and then a second female along with an additinal male joined the group.

The two rays with the white scuff spots on their centerline (dorsal) are females. These marks are from males biting them with intent of gaining a submission.

We did come across three known turtled that had been hooked and entangled before and captured, helped and released. Below is" π" tagged as MA100.

Below is "Mercedes" who has been caught and released 4 times with fishing gear and hooks. She was tagged as MA108. Here she was resting under a rock wher she has been found numerous times.

And the third turtle is "Wedge" who was tagged as MA126 which has worn off almost completely.

Below, the female (same female as seen on 8-12-21 and pictured in other page) has a male grab onto her with his mouth. He held on while she blasted to the surface in a serpintine path and he ultimately released his grip. Presumably this was an attempt to gain her submission to mate with him.

The school of akule watch on.

The other female was sporting a large ulua hook in her mouth:

Cheryl getting some images of the hooked ray:

Male below has a hook with algae growing off it sticking out if his mouth"

On the way in, we came across Mercedes heading up for air: