Monster Sunfish

A sunfish that washed up near the base of Farewell Spit is a monster with a strange sense of timing, a marine expert says.

The 3m sunfish was discovered at Taupata Creek near Puponga by passers-by on Sunday.

www.stuff.co.nz...

Department of Conservation worker and Pakawau resident Heather Gunn said she was driving past when she saw "a big lump" on the beach, which she initially thought to be a whale.

"It looked fresh. It did not smell and it had not been pecked over."

A sunfish washed up on Farewell Spit at Christmas 2002, and another was washed up on Pakawau Beach about four years ago.

DOC marine specialist Andrew Baxter said the most recent sunfish discovery was "a real oddity" because of the time of year.

"The literature says they can be found in New Zealand's north-eastern waters in warm summers, and they can stray south of Cook Strait. But this is definitely not a warm summer, rather a cold spring."

Mr Baxter said sunfish could grow up to 3m long and weigh up to a tonne.

After seeing a photograph of the sunfish, Mr Baxter estimated it was between 2m and 3m long. Text Blue

i think this is intresting but should be posted in cryptzoooligy?

i think this is intresting but should be posted in cryptzoooligy?

Likely just Website Related...it's not a cryptid, and isn't alien related...

Interesting story though....

Wow! That picture is crazy, I've never seen anything like that before it looks like a mutant hehe. Is this hinting at more effects of climate change?

That doesnt look like any sun fish I have ever seen?

I know I wouldnt be eating it. Bla

How bizzare!

Wow, that's crazy!

More info on this would be great

here are some live ones

www.earthwindow.com...


Makes you wonder where mother nature gets some of her designs from doesn't it!

Originally posted by pantha
Makes you wonder where mother nature gets some of her designs from doesn't it!

Indeed, they're incredible. I'm ashamed to say I'd never even heard of them before or seen pictures. I've seen some amazing creatures but I can't believe these slipped me by, thanks for the link.

Truely amazing creature. Biggest yet encountered. Too bad it was dead. But that's usually how some amazing sea life is discovered.

In first reading I was under the influnce that is was a fresh water sun fish.
The pictures the Pantha posted, the fish look very big. compared to a human.

Hehe, that would certainly be out of place in freshwater. My daughter and I caught several sunfish the other weekend, they're itty bitty.

Originally posted by parrhesia
My daughter and I caught several sunfish the other weekend, they're itty bitty.

Right, at most a pound.

Yup.


Freshwater Sunfish:

Originally posted by parrhesia
Freshwater Sunfish:

Not quite in the same league as our other friend at the top hehe, not that they should feel bad though
It's crazy that they come in such radically different sizes, it's one hell of a jump.

Originally posted by parrhesia
Yup.


Freshwater Sunfish:

I wouldnt eat that big one, But you give me a grill with some butter, and I can cook you up a mess of those blugill. (Thats what we call 'em in Kentucky) There fun to catch and make a real good sandwich if you can get all the rib boe out of them

make a real good sandwich

Mmmmm.... Bluegill sammitch.

I remember the first time I saw one while on our boat --at first I thought it was a fish that had been half eaten

They are bizzare looking for sure -- it was fun to watch it watch us got some good pictures of it anyway.

jm

Originally posted by Der Kapitan

make a real good sandwich

Mmmmm.... Bluegill sammitch.

Make a sandwich out of that thing.

Now if I can only find a bun big enough..... Hmmmm.