Mola Mola

[drbill]

Hmmm... I just had a "brilliant" thought (considering I'm still on my first cup of coffee). Sea lion populations have been increasing in southern California over the past few decades. This could be a recovery from the days they were harvested for oil, or possibly even a response to slowly warming ocean waters due to natural cycles or possibly even global warming.

Increasing numbers of sea lions in our region could possibly explain the apparent decline in Mola mola in our waters over the past several decades in view their impact on the fish as evidenced clearly in Steve's image and other observations.

 

[Sam Miller III]

Over the years I have seen many many Molas...

I have seen them inshore (but a long way out) at several beaches off OC, especially the Woods Cove area.

However I encountered most of them in blue water while spear fishing for Yellow tail in very deep water. Gives one a thrill and a momentary stopage of all systems to see a large mola materialize from the blue--then once again disappear into the blue..You and your six foot long spear gun suddenly become insignificant..

sdm

 

[HowardE]

I've seen a few over the last couple of years, but it is my feeling (not scientifically verified) that I used to see a lot more of them in our waters in the late 60's through the late 70's. They sure are interesting when you encounter them. I filmed a halfmoon cleaning one on a safety stop at Little Farnsworth last year.

We saw one when we dived with you last June... It was our first

 

[jlyle]

A couple of years ago, we had a flurry of Mola mola sightings between Catalina and the mainland - so many, in fact, that we scheduled a trip to find one. The best place to look is near any kelp paddies that you see on the surface.

 

[Rickster]

Here are a couple above water pics of a Mola Mola I seen in the "Gap", Channel Islands, in 2006.

Rick

 

[OceanObsessed]

The ones that I saw were about 20 miles East of Fort Lauderdale in pelagic waters. It is rare to see them on our coast... and I have never heard of anyone seeing them over here while diving. The ones that we saw were huge... we thought they were sharks from a distance because we saw their fins breaking the surface. It was one of those days where I felt sick to my stomach for not bringing the camera. I would have jumped in for the pictures. You guys are seeing them near shore. I have awlays thought these were a pelagic species... are they?

 

[Empty V]

Awesome pic jlyle!

We've got this theory that they are attracted to the purr of boat engines. When we go fishing off our boat out of Newport Beach about 1 out of every 4 times they seem to come right to us and just chill out. You can walk right over the transom of the boat(on the swim-step) and pet them. I think I've got some old pictures of these mutant creatures somewhere. It would always happen in blue water and just appear out of nowhere.

Billy

 

[spt29970]

jlyle: That is a great image. Was that in Socal? The water is just TOO blue!?!

 

[drbill]

Agree with Sam that most sightings tend to be in deeper offshore waters. Of course the rapid dropoff in the waters off Catalina create good possibilities to see these generally pelagic and neritic fish. I don't remember ever seeing one on any of our shark dives (which tend to be 4-12 miles off our coast) over the past few years (I'd have video of them if I had). My sightings tend to be over submerged pinnacles that are slightly offshore like Little Farnsworth and Farnsworth Bank.

 

[jlyle]

jlyle: That is a great image. Was that in Socal? The water is just TOO blue!?!

Thanks, Steve. Yes, right here in SoCal - midchannel and very deep water. Of course, the camera doesn't see the way you and I do; the image is intentionally underexposed to bring out a darker blue. At fast shutter speeds the water will photograph black.