A Southern California fishing trip targeting yellowtail took an unexpected turn when anglers spotted a massive shark beside their boat.
A Rare Encounter with a Whale Shark
A group of fishermen off San Clemente Island had a rare encounter with a whale shark this past week. The chance encounter reflected the unusual warm-water conditions that have benefited anglers.
A fishing charter out of Newport Beach had a rare, up-close encounter with the ocean’s largest shark species Monday, one not typically seen in Southern California waters. The moment was caught on video near San Clemente Island, the southernmost of the Channel Islands, about 55… pic.twitter.com/QTUB8lA1Vp
— SoCal Daily Pulse (@socaldailypulse) September 16, 2026
The fishing charter, out of Newport Beach, came extremely close to the ocean’s largest fish species.
Whale sharks are not typically found in Southern California waters.
A Gentle Giant
At one point, the fishermen debate jumping into the water to get closer to the shark. Whale sharks are filter feeders that consume plankton and other small marine organisms. They are generally considered harmless to humans, though the massive shark brushes against the boat at one stage.
Warmer Waters Means More Unusual Encounters
The whale shark and other warm-water species, including large manta rays, have recently been spotted in California waters amid unusually warm ocean conditions. A marine heatwave has affected waters off California since 2025, while a strengthening El Niño could help prolong those warmer conditions…