Couple Encounters Endangered Species While Fishing on River Bank
An Aussie couple’s fishing trip turns into a rescue mission for an endangered sawfish
Fitzroy River, Western Australia, Sawfish, Endangered Species, Fishing
Fitzroy River: So, there’s this Aussie couple, Karen and John, who were out fishing one day. They were just enjoying their time on the river when they spotted something odd on the bank.
It was low tide, and they were exploring a little creek they don’t usually check out. They were looking for bait to catch barramundi when they noticed this strange shape. It didn’t look like a tree or trash, just something off.
As they got closer, they thought it was a dead fish. But when they waded through the shallow water, they realized it was a sawfish caught in a fishing net. Can you believe that?
Now, sawfish are pretty cool but also critically endangered. Karen quickly saw that this guy was in trouble, bleeding and tangled up. John was worried about crocodiles nearby, but they knew they had to help.
After some quick thinking, Karen unhooked the net from the driftwood, and the sawfish started to move! It was still alive, which was a relief. They jumped into rescue mode right away.
They grabbed a knife and worked fast to free the sawfish from the net. It took them about five minutes, and once they got it loose, the sawfish just glided away into the water. What a moment!
It was super rewarding for them. Karen mentioned she had cleaned up fishing nets before, but this was a whole new level of excitement. Just a few weeks later, she even freed another sawfish caught on her line. Talk about luck!
Sadly, there have been reports of sawfish dying in the area, mainly due to fishing pressures. It’s a tough situation for these amazing creatures, but Karen and John’s story shows that every little bit helps.