Fisherman catches endangered sea turtle off the coast of SF

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A man fishing for salmon off the San Francisco coast made an unusual catch.

He hooked an endangered pacific green sea turtle. The reptiles grow to be three to four feet in length.

The Captain of the charted fishing boat knew what to do. He netted the turtle, unhooked it and returned it to sea unharmed.

Pacific green turtles are mostly found in Mexico and further south.

Biologists say finding one in the cold waters off San Francisco is extremely rare.