HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Sunbathers came upon a rare sight on Hollywood Beach on Tuesday afternoon.
A giant ocean sunfish washed ashore, startling and amazing those who came out to get a tan or enjoy the surf.
The sunfish, or mola mola fish, measured about 8 feet in length and came ashore near Harrison Street.
The fish was first spotted this morning and Hollywood Police were on-scene to make sure no one touched it.
According to Smithsonian.com, the ocean sunfish are one of the most mysterious occupants of the ocean, growing up to 14 feet long and weighing up to 5,000 pounds.
Although the sighting of a mola fish is rare in these parts, National Geographic says the mola are found in tropical oceans all over the world.