Just about ran over a turtle this afternoon kiting just south of first carpark, Trigg Beach.

It came to the surface about 50m out. I was heading towards shore and suddenly had to carve to miss his head. I got a good look at him and he was one of those big ones you see up NW WA.

I didnt know they came this far down. I guess they do!!

Which one that you see up NW WA? Did it have the prominent ridge lines running down its shell, a leatherback?



I saw one of these things not far from the Floreat Surf Club last season, it was huge! Apparently they are rare this far south, but if it's the same sort as the one you saw it might be a local?

I saw a big ray this afternoon just near the dog beach, at least I think it was a ray - nothing else I can think of could really be that flat, symmetric and angular at the same time?

We get quite a few turtles at our local too, they have a habit of popping up right in front of you.
The Dugong scare the hell outta you when they come up for air as they let out a bloody big snort.

Seems to be a lot more of both around in Morton bay lately. There also seems to be plenty of seagrass where there was once mud. I don't mind them hanging around as it hopefully means there's no big bitey fish prowling.

Dr Funk said...

^What do you think the big bitey fish like to eat?

Yeah was hoping the numbers were up everywhere so the sharks won't bother coming all the way into the muddy corner of the bay. Then again.......

ran over some white caps today ,,,who cares ...this thread is so lame....come on now /////

I read it while in Exmouth, that a very large % of turtles before maturation ends up like the pic above....and it has been so for some mil's of years....and now I hope we do not run out of turtles soon...or at least while we are kiting around...
...I had an awesome time the year before....kiting around turtles in Graveyards....

rhinoman said...

ran over some white caps today ,,,who cares ...this thread is so lame....come on now /////

Apologies for this thread not being up to your standards.

Posted more as a comment on a turtle being in the metro area. In all my 15 or so years of surfing, fishing, diving, boating, kitesurfing around Perth and Rottnest I have never seen a wild turtle locally. So personally I was quite surprised to have one pop up in front of me at my local and thought it must be quite rare...perhaps not?

Anyways, by you commenting how lame it is, actually just keeps it around for longer.

Enjoy it for a little longer bud

I was surfing at the farm about 6 months ago and a dead turtle floated past me in the line up. It was bizarre to see one so far south.

It subsequently went over the falls.

rez said...

Saw a HUGE leatherback behind Scarborough quite a few years ago that was covered in barnacles. Pretty cool to have a rare encounter like that.

Only leatherbacks around my local are the ol' blokes in sluggos doing the morning swim....