It’s rare enough to spot a whale shark in the pristine water beyond Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, but to see one swimming inside the marina might be unheard of.
“This is a first-time event in Cabo,” Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing, said of the Monday morning sighting.
The 20-foot whale shark was spotted near the back of the harbor by a man who thought it was a great white shark. "Then we heard that others said no it was a mako... then the truth came out it was actually a WHALE shark... the largest fish on the planet," Pisces stated on Facebook.
The footage was captured by Beto Lira, captain of Ruthless.
Whale sharks, which can measure to about 40 feet, are the world’s largest fish species. The docile plankton-eaters are also mysterious in that little is known about their migration habits.
They're sometimes spotted in the Sea of Cortez, between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, but not inside harbors, where water quality is diminished.
Added Pisces: “The fish actually swam up to the dock where the Pisces boats leave from. It caused a huge amount of excitement amongst the crews as you can tell by the filming.
"We were just commenting yesterday how clear and warm the water is and how much bait there is in the marina... not that the whale shark was after them, they are a harmless plankton eater. The only danger they pose is if you are out fishing and collide with them. They are gentle giants. What a marvelous way to start the week.
–Pete Thomas
–Note: Whale shark image atop this post is generic.
We were at the Villa Del Palmar on Sunday watching the mobular rays jumping and I saw something swimming in the bay in front of the hotel. It was far enough away that I couldn't see it clearly, but I knew it was big as it was leaving a wake even in the waves. I commented to my husband that I was going to be really upset if it was a whale shark and I was going to miss it. Boy, was I right or what! And yes, I'm pissed!!!
Posted by: Sharon Weibel | May 24, 2016 at 04:42 PM