Ocean sunfish spotted swimming off Hollywood Beach

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – An ocean sunfish, also known as a common mola, was spotted swimming off Hollywood Beach on Monday morning.

Sky 10 was above the water shortly before 10:30 a.m. as the sunfish swam close to shore.

Beachgoers initially thought the sea creature could have been a whale in distress, but Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials identified the creature as a common mola and said the sunfish was just swimming around per usual in its natural habitat.

"I asked the lifeguard on the way back -- I said, 'Is that a whale?' And he said, 'No, it's not a whale, it's actually an ocean sunfish and they don't bite," one woman told Local 10 News reporter Todd Tongen.  

The ocean sunfish is the heaviest-known bony fish in the world and it is native to tropical and temperate waters.

Adults typically weigh between 540-2,200 pounds.   
 


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.