Ocean Sun Fish Question

[SamFamAustin]

Some of our Yankee friends were asking about photographs of the Ocean Sun Fish, a monster of a fish that was sighted (of all places) in Long Island Sound last week.

So, here it comes, has anyone sighted the Ocean Sun Fish (or Mora-Mora) off the Abacos, and second does anyone have a picture from their photo gallery?

Thanks!
Sam

[abacofever]

Of course. See a few every year. No pics. About 2 years ago 4-5 Tiger sharks had one pretty chewed up in 200-300 feet of water off Guana. Well, I said chewed up, I am sure it did not survive. A couple of the Tigers were about 500 lbs and one may have been 800 plus. Already had a few bites about 18" - 20" across. It was a mature Mola-Mola. my guess is around 1500 plus lbs. Great day it was flat calm w\crystal clear ocean. Like looking into a giant fish pond.

[Island Daze]

We get the Ocean sunfish here in the fall sometime when the cannonball jellyfish are around.Four or five years ago i had to push one off of the bar ,200 to 300 pounder, and the skin is just like a shark, rough.Yhat fish has one goal i am sure its to go around and suck up the cannonballs their mouth is perfect for it.

[SamFamAustin]

Thanks for the replies and my buddy up in Connecticut also thanks you. See his website at

http://www.thissphere.blogspot.com/

for something on Long Island Sound environmental reporting. If you catch it quick, the Mora-Mora story will still be there or one down.

If anyone comes across one of these honeys, please do snap a picture as they are fairly rare. I must say they are quite ridiculous looking, although immensely content lolling around and chewing on the jellies. I haven't seen one myself since about 1974. /Sam

[AbacoBoy]

I'm sorry that I didn't get a picture, but I came across one while I was trolling along a weed line once. He (she?) was kinda laying on his side and just looking up at me. I got the feeling that it seemed more human than fish. Kinda like being in the presence of a Dolphin (porpoise) maybe. It just turned as I went by and watched me. Pretty interesting. It probably weighed several hundred pounds. They do like to eat jellyfish and Portugese Man o wars I believe.

AB

[Sandalman]

Hey Sam,
Way back around 1980 I went out fishing off Brant Rock,Marshfield Mass(home of Edward Rowe Snow-read him if ya have'nt-you'll love him!)in a veeeery small boat.We had just cast and I looked over the side and saw a giant eyeball looking back up at me!It was a huge flat fish lying on it's side which I first thought was a mutant flounder or something.One of my buddies said it was an ocean sunfish and reached down and petted it.He stated he was going to swim with it and was going to jump in but the rest of us thought better of it!Your question brought that memory back to the surface, but I am sorry no one had a camera that day.I wonder what would have happened if he did jump in that day?Can you eat an ocean sunfish or is it all bone like it's freshwater counter part?

[SamFamAustin]

LOL, an ocean sunfish is the largest bony fish in the ocean and has nothing to do with those tasty little inland panfish. The Mora-Mora are extremely docile like the whale shark (the largest shark), although I wouldn't want to make one upset. I never thought about jumping in to ride one, but an underwater shot would be fantastic! I wouldn't eat one - it would take at least a month and probably spoil before you could finish it. They usually weigh about 1-2 tons.

-The Sturgeon General ;)

[Bo]

Hey Sam , check out this site it has some good pics of Mola Molas. www.earthwindow.com/mola.html

[Sandalman]

I did a quick google on eating it and came up with this linkhttp://listproc.ucdavis.edu/archives/seafood/log9909/0020.html
Sure doesn't sound too appetizing,and definitely not what the Sturgeon General ordered:eek:

[SamFamAustin]

Bleah! Cheeseburger in paradise, anyone?
-The Sturgeon General

[Sandalman]

I found an informative link on Mola Mola you all might be interested in.http://www.bidp-balidiving.com/eng/mola-mola-oceanic-sunfish/It claims it is harmless to people and has few enemies.But again, I don't think it's going to be on any menu soon.Sturgeon General,Have you seen any around San Padre Island?Also has anyone out there swam with any?Or maybe hung out for a few rum thangs with one?

[oldoc2]

It's a grey day here in the NE-with heavy rain to come so I thought I'd tell my MOLA story: In 1978 we left Montauk to head to the canyon for an overnight. Some three miles south of the Light, the engines(53 custom SF) ran roughly and smoke poured from the exhausts-there was an unstoppable engine room fire-a nearby boat picked my wife and mate off the bow-I ran below to get my wallet and car keys-there was an explosion and I found myself swimming-there was this HUGE fin some twenty feet away....I swam the distance of 50 ft to our rescuers in olympic time.....and of course it was a Mola....the only funny thing that happeneds on that tragic day.

[SamFamAustin]

Wow, what a story, Oldoc2. It's gray and blwing 25 here today. That's the same general area were spotted a Mola, near Montauk and Block Island.

Sandalman, I haven't seen any Mola down here on SPI. I don't see why not, since they could come in on a Loop Current eddy. The Texas wildlife agency did note that while rare, they are occasional visitors - one fellow snagged a baby one way offshore while trolling. The shrimpers have been known to bring in some crazy-looking fish, too, like the Guitarfish.

I wonder if there are any Guitarfish spotted around the Abaco area? You'd know because they sound just like Jimmy Buffet! :rolleyes:
-The Sturgeon General