Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)
- Thread starter C-Pelican
- Start date
journey on
New member
We've seen a couple of sun fish around Catalina in the last couple of years. Judy saw one just outside of Avalon this weekend, and we saw one in the middle of the channel a couple of years age. The only other sun fish we've ever seen were in the Monterrey Aquarium and the So. Pacific. The SoCal waters are getting warmer.
Keep a good lookout, cause if you hit one, it'll tear out whatever is underwater. They're slow, solid fish.
Boris
Keep a good lookout, cause if you hit one, it'll tear out whatever is underwater. They're slow, solid fish.
Boris
Wandering Sagebrush
Free Range Human
As a youngster, I remember seeing one that was hauled up on the dock here in Oregon. No idea how the fisherman (commercial?) got the fish, as I believe they eat jelly fish as their principal diet.
It was probably at Reedsport or some other town along the central coast.
Steve
It was probably at Reedsport or some other town along the central coast.
Steve
flapbreaker
New member
We saw probably 25 of them this last summer offshore. Very cool fish.
I caught one about 3' square maybe 50-pounds just south of the golden gate about 10 years ago. Never saw one before or after. Just laying near the surface not 100 yards from shore. There were several others down deeper. I just dipped it and held it in the net, while we called several times to the SF aquarium to see if they wanted it. Could not get through to anyone so we just let it go.
Wierdest fish I'd ever seen. I didn't know if it was rare or not at the time. Little bitty flipper fins at the top and bottom of it's square tail. At first I thought it was a much larger fish bitten in half by a shark or something.
Must have been an El Nino year to see them up north.
Fish must have some other defense than speed to avoid predators.
chris
Wierdest fish I'd ever seen. I didn't know if it was rare or not at the time. Little bitty flipper fins at the top and bottom of it's square tail. At first I thought it was a much larger fish bitten in half by a shark or something.
Must have been an El Nino year to see them up north.
Fish must have some other defense than speed to avoid predators.
chris
Ashley Lynn
New member
They sure are a strange fish. I don't know what it is but sometimes they are in thick between San Diego and the Coronado Islands. I've been on trips where you see 10 in a day. I can only imagine what would happen if you hit one.
Jeff glad to hear to finally made it out to Catalina.
Bill
Jeff glad to hear to finally made it out to Catalina.
Bill
Several years ago, we were heading out of Port San Luis for albacore.
Just as I was clearing the breakwater, and picking up speed, I felt a thump and a shudder. :shock:
I slowed down and my friend put the spot light on---- a big mola.
No damage or harm to the 17' Arima Sea Ranger or the engine.
Just as I was clearing the breakwater, and picking up speed, I felt a thump and a shudder. :shock:
I slowed down and my friend put the spot light on---- a big mola.
No damage or harm to the 17' Arima Sea Ranger or the engine.
I have seen them several times as far north as Barkley Sound off the west coast of Vancouver Island during El Nino years. Like Chris I just scooped it up in the net. The skin or shell is very hard and solid almost like a dense block of styrofoam. After a few pictures we released it and it paddled away with those strange little fins.