. >> reporter: mark anelo took us aboard their crabber to show us buoy and snarled line that he cut from a whale. >> it was around his line. it looked like he was trying to chew the rope off of him. >> reporter: the migrating gray illuded rescuers who could not entangle it but attached buoys to make it more visible. anelo spotted those buoys bobbing. >> they're diving and coming back up. diving. >> reporter: he grabbed some video when he saw what the buoys were hooked to. >> i was trying to drive the boat and video tape. >> then he sped alongside. then he and another crew member snapped the ropes. the whale close enough to touch. >> he was right on the surface. he was wore out. he was definitely wore out. we got right to him. >> reporter: all the while careful to make sure they didn't get pulled over. >> we did dive a couple of times but i wasn't going to get taken down by the whale. >> reporter: anelo had no idea this whale had been on tv, marine experts worried it might die weak and unable to feed. not until his dad asked where did he get a new buoy did that whale of a rescue ever come