They were out fishing off the Florida coast. Suddenly, a massive creature appeared
A charter fishing group got an unexpected feast for the eyes earlier this month off the coast of Southwest Florida.
A whale shark swam right next to their boat, which was about 26 miles off of Sarasota, in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
“We had a visitor [come] up and show us just how small we are in the ocean,” said Boca Grande Tarpon’s TikTok on July 3, along with a video of the big guy sidling right beside the fishermen.
“Oh my God!” screams a man off camera as the massive blue and gray spotted creature lumbers by. “Oh my God!”
Well said.
A whale shark is the largest fish in the world, capable of growing up to around 60 feet long and weighing upward of 20 tons. But while the tropical fish’s massive size may be terrifying, this endangered species, which feeds mostly on plankton, is not predatory.
How rare is a sighting of this gentle giant?
Florida Aquarium associate curator Eric Hovland told Fox 35 Orlando that he has been hearing of more and more reports recently thanks to improved technology.
“Everybody’s got an iPhone or a GoPro and great ways to record,” he told the outlet, adding that if you do see one, give it distance. “We can be a danger to whale sharks so approach with caution. They can’t turn or stop very quickly.”
This story was originally published July 14, 2023 at 2:07 PM with the headline "They were out fishing off the Florida coast. Suddenly, a massive creature appeared."
