Whale shark (?) off so cal?

[ChrisM]

What do you guys think?

Link to a link to a link to a fishing board with two photos.
Possible whale shark in La Jolla

Distribution of WS is noted to include So Cal, although I've never heard of one being seen (in the last couple years there has beena manta report off Dana Point, so it could happen)

the first shot clearly shows spots, and I am not aware of any other animal with those markings. That pic alone says whale shark to me

Second shot? The fin can only be the tail. The dorsal sins are too rounded to be what's in the pic.

 

[Teamcasa]

Amazing if it is true. Although the water has been much warmer lately. I'll have to wait for Dr. Bill to weigh in on this.

 

[paradicio]

Whoa... If it's true I'd have loved to have been there to see it... :diver:

 

[WannaLaguna]

markings look right...could also be the markings of an eagle ray?? But I've never heard of one around here??

or... a BIG dude with bleached spots on his wetsuit????

 

[drbill]

Hard for me to tell, but it is possible. We do get critters like mantas and possibly whale sharks during periods of warm water incursion into the SoCal Bight, and as you pointed out, Dave, it has been fairly warm lately. Of course once "global warming" takes effect, we'll have coral reefs and whale sharks... yippee!

 

[alcina]

Is that tail notched? It kinda looks like it to me but it's so small I can't tell. If it is, you can say Yup, whale shark

I think if the second shot is a shot of the same animal as the first shot, it's a whale shark, coz it ain't no eagle ray!

 

[PhotoTJ]

I dove with one down in Mexico, it looked exactly like that. It's either a whale shark,...

or something we don't know about, that looks just like a whale shark.

IMOHO

 

[drbill]

Hmmm... maybe the Loch Ness monster of SoCal, TJ?

 

[D_B]

Cool!

... just dont tell Almity that we have whale sharks ;-)

 

[MissyP]

Maybe I need glasses... I'm not seeing anything but a little fin sticking up...? lol