Basking Shark

Ran into a basking shark on the way back from South Island today. Zack said they are thick from the bottom of the nine down to the islands.

http://members.cox.net/bocaboard/bask1.JPG

Pulled along side for a better shot.
http://members.cox.net/bocaboard/bask2.JPG

When it noticed the boat it made a hard left and charged the boat. I thought for sure this can't be good.
http://members.cox.net/bocaboard/bask3.JPG

It turns out all the shark wanted was some of that bubbly water coming off the prop. Probably taste like Perrier and makes his face all tingly..
http://members.cox.net/bocaboard/bask4.JPG

Sharks cute. So whats happening at south island?

Good current but I couldn't find any halibut that wanted to bite. Not sure what was going on today. Maybe the fish are spooked by the 4.2 quake that hit down by the 371 yeasterday.

Mike

I'm confused...Why didn't you kill it?

On a serious note be careful. You don't want to run into one of these things. Painful.

Wow you got photos

Mike they are so big we found 15 in one spot. Don't think it would be fun to hit one they must be 2000 pounds over 20 feet long.

They have no fear of boats and swim on the surface at night. Thats going to make long runs for tuna exciting as you pass through the nine.

did you see more than one

Russ

I was on a line from South Island to the point, maybe 2 miles north and in less than 200 feet of water when I saw it.

Mike

We had to be in 380 feet in the middle of the lower 9 you only saw one, I bet it wasn't alone. Very cool to see. I ran into them in the Sea of Cortez off Loreto many years ago. From what I have read they are a social animal that travel in goups of as many as 50. I wonder what else we are going to see this year.

Russ

I hope we see me catch a marlin.

Mike