Entangled Humpback Whale Spotted in Waters Off Dana Point

Whale watchers spotted an entangled humpback whale in the waters off Dana Point Harbor Friday.

Passengers and crew members from Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari and Dana Wharf Sportfishing spotted the whale with line wrapped around its head and what appeared to be a drum or buoy attached.

According to witnesses, the whale was spotted too late in the day for rescue team members to attempt to disentangle it.

"My heart breaks for this animal," Capt. Dave Anderson, one of the boat operators, said.

According to Anderson, he and his crew will look for the whale Saturday, but said it likely has moved down the coast.

The whale was reportedly last seen near Dana Point Harbor heading south.

This humpback is one of over 40 whales that have been seen off the California coast this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.