Heroic fishermen save whale entangled in crab pots near Bodega Bay

In this file photo, a fishing vessel heads past the research vessel Fulmar and out of Bodega Bay harbor.

In this file photo, a fishing vessel heads past the research vessel Fulmar and out of Bodega Bay harbor. Photo: Brian L. Frank, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Brian L. Frank, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Heroic fishermen save whale entangled in crab pots near Bodega Bay 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

When three fisherman found a distressed whale near Bodega Bay on Wednesday, it was tangled up in a mess of crabbing line and pots. The massive mammal was bleeding and repeatedly blowing water from its spout.

The fishing crew aboard the Legacy brought their vessel close to the whale and started cutting the line with boat hooks.

Initially, the whale was agitated but then it seemed to realize the men were helping.

"It would come and it would roll over and be like, almost showing us where the lines were on its fins," Legacy crewman Valentine Parnell told KPIX.

When the whale was finally free, it circled the boat several times, as if it were thanking the fisherman, before swimming off.