Thought I was going to need a whale rescue blade today...

Surfingringo

Surfingringo

Joined
May 25, 2013
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I really was thinking that for a minute. I rolled up on this 50ft+ humpback today and as I got closer I saw what appeared to be netting hanging beneath her. I had my Pacific Salt out and was working my breathe-up and basically trying to be calm before I jumped ship to see if I could cut her loose. As I got a bit closer though, I realized what I thought was net was just one of her unbelievably gigantic pectoral fins! I bet you anything the fin was over 20ft long. It was bizarre! Anyway, at that point I noticed she had a young calf with her too so I pretty much abandoned any ideas of jumping in and trying to make friends. I don't think she was too worried about me but even a cautionary love pat from an 80,000 lb. whale would be like getting hit by a bus. Anyway, all turned out well and I was grateful for the experience and even more grateful I didn't have to do any net cutting! Can't say I wasn't prepared though! :cool:

The video was taken with a fisheye gopro so the distance is very deceiving. When I deployed the knife i was already within 15 feet of the whale. At the closest I was almost directly on top of her. I could have easily touched her blowhole with my fishing rod. :)

[video=youtube;qKtuLVcfJEs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKtuLVcfJEs[/video]
 
I'm pretty sure it says on spydercos site that the whale rescue knife is sold to the public but its technically illegal to try and use to free a whale if your a civilian. Not that I'd turn you in for trying to save a whale. Probably a good thing you scoped things out before jumping in though lol. Even if the whale was stuck in netting you'd be risking your life to try and cut it free with a 2 inch spyderco knife.

That whale knife sypderco sells is like a 2-3 foot blade that they attach to a ten foot pole.
 
I know it's not alllllll fun but man oh man I think of you as living the dream.

Yes - put a GoPro on the bow under water too :thumbup:.

Glad you 3 were all right!
 
Hi Lance,

You learned that your head and your heart are in the right place. :thumbup:

sal
 
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