Turtle on arrival at Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital and radiograph (X-ray) showing hooks.

5/18 Turtle was hooked off a fishing pier last night, transported to CROW facility on Sanibel Island overnight, then transported to Mote this morning.  Turtle had been hooked near the eye, but the eye itself does not appear to be damaged.  Radiographs revealed four more hooks in the turtle's throat and stomach and another hook in its right front flipper.  Turtle has been scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning to remove the hooks. 5/21 We were able to remove two hooks from the esophagus via gastroscopy and two more hooks were removed from the skin.  There remains at least one more buried in the neck and we may have to do an exploratory surgery to locate and remove it later this week.  After removal, the turtle began eating well.  Is on antibiotics to control infections from the penetrations. 5/22 Another hook was removed from under the skin today.  Turtle continues to do very well. 5/23 Turtle passed another hook in its feces this morning.  Eating well. 5/25 Turtle passed a swivle and some fishing line in its feces last night.  Continuing to eat well. 6/1 Turtle continues to do well.  No more hooks have passed. 6/5 Beginning to gain weight and do very well. 6/7 Turtle passed about two feet of fishing line in its feces yesterday. 6/12 Turtle continues to gain weight. 6/19 Radiographs this morning indicate that the one remaining hook is still in the neck but does not appear to be causing any problems.  6/25 Follow-up esophagoscopy failed to reveal any more hooks.  Turtle is doing very well. 6/29 Continuing to do very well. 7/12 Turtle continues to do well.  May be able to release it in the next month. 7/30 Turtle continuing to do very well. 8/7 Getting very close to being ready for release. 8/22 Turtle has been tagged with PIT and flipper tags in preparation for release soon. 8/28 Turtle was released this morning from South Marco Beach on Marco Island.  Release went very well.