Sun fish

[octico]

Originally Posted by Silbaugh4liberty

About 10 feet from my kayak, scared the shit out of me. I grabbed my phone to record and it jumped up again about 30-50 yards away (getting it on camera). Between that and about a dozen whales around us that day, it was the most surface activity I've ever seen in Newport.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfew_FIp9ms

I thought that was you that saw it, that was a pretty cool day.

[GregAndrew]

Ok, lets correct a few things. They usually feed on jellyfish, but will also feed on Squid. I have them on video trying to eat my Squid, Sardine, my flasher and my camera. So they are not tied to a particular diet. I have caught over a dozen of them, with most being on Squid. I have never targeted them, but like Batrays, they will hang out around Squid spawns. Their skin is more like sand paper than leather and will scratch your kayak. When the Squid are around you will typically see lots more of them. They breach a lot during the spawn, and seem to be able to do so over and over again. They also do some finning as a part of their mating or courting ritual. I have seen them in multiple groups of 10 or 12 at the surface doing it.

[theluckypig]

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

Ok, lets correct a few things. They usually feed on jellyfish, but will also feed on Squid. I have them on video trying to eat my Squid, Sardine, my flasher and my camera. So they are not tied to a particular diet. I have caught over a dozen of them, with most being on Squid. I have never targeted them, but like Batrays, they will hang out around Squid spawns. Their skin is more like sand paper than leather and will scratch your kayak. When the Squid are around you will typically see lots more of them. They breach a lot during the spawn, and seem to be able to do so over and over again. They also do some finning as a part of their mating or courting ritual. I have seen them in multiple groups of 10 or 12 at the surface doing it.

the superman/mad scientist strikes again...

[Aaron&Julie]

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

Ok, lets correct a few things. They usually feed on jellyfish, but will also feed on Squid. I have them on video trying to eat my Squid, Sardine, my flasher and my camera. So they are not tied to a particular diet. I have caught over a dozen of them, with most being on Squid. I have never targeted them, but like Batrays, they will hang out around Squid spawns. Their skin is more like sand paper than leather and will scratch your kayak. When the Squid are around you will typically see lots more of them. They breach a lot during the spawn, and seem to be able to do so over and over again. They also do some finning as a part of their mating or courting ritual. I have seen them in multiple groups of 10 or 12 at the surface doing it.

What Greg said x3, but one additional note, they can get to be well over 2,000 pounds, and it is the heaviest known bony fish in the world, since sharks have cartilage not bone, eliminating whale sharks, baskings, etc.
Want to see a big one? Go here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SpxY5OLLxc

[Silbaugh4liberty]

Originally Posted by octico

I thought that was you that saw it, that was a pretty cool day.

Yeah crazy day out there. Never have that kind of activity in Newport. Jaime got spooled that day on only Lord knows what and broke his line I believe (right after the Mola incident).

[Dirty Curti]

Freakn' Sea turtl Jay!