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View Full Version : Shark in scrabster harbour today



buggyracer
12-Sep-07, 15:25
A large shark was spotted in the harbour at scrabster today by several different people, it was thought to be chasing makeral as they were jumping out of the water at the time, just thought this may have been of interest to some.

northener
12-Sep-07, 17:15
Could be a porbeagle, though it is unusual to see them at all near the surface.

Could be a Risso's dolphin, just seen one today off Stroma.

Might just be a basking shark, although it wouldn't be after mackerel - the mackerel wouldn't know that though!

Could you see just the dorsal fin or could you see the tailfin as well?

Tugmistress
12-Sep-07, 17:16
A large shark was spotted in the harbour at scrabster today by several different people, it was thought to be chasing makeral as they were jumping out of the water at the time, just thought this may have been of interest to some.

You could have rung me! would have loved to have tried to get a pic of it, whether is be a predatory one chasing mackeral or a basking shark

Dusty
12-Sep-07, 17:21
Might have been the same one that charged my wife £9 for three ice cream cones outside the Tower of London last weekend.[mad]

Dusty.

gem1982
12-Sep-07, 17:38
I was told it was a rather large basking shark and both fins could be seen never seen it myself though so not sure

SandTiger
12-Sep-07, 17:48
Saw a basker and a couple of Sunfish in the bay at the weekend. Seeing the caudal fin and the dorsal together is a very strong indicator that you may be seeing a basker

buggyracer
12-Sep-07, 18:53
sorry peeps didnt see it myself, some have told me basking some have said porbeagle?? So who knows?

northener
12-Sep-07, 19:20
Sounds like a basker from what people have been saying. Saw a juvenile one (2m approx) yesterday in Gills bay - but as soon as the porpoise closed in it sloped off. Saw two seperate baskers last week.

SandTiger, saw a Sunfish off the Swilkie about 3 weeks ago. First time I've seen one up here - are sightings becomong more common?

SandTiger
12-Sep-07, 20:02
... SandTiger, saw a Sunfish off the Swilkie about 3 weeks ago. First time I've seen one up here - are sightings becomong more common?

It's really hard to say without any credible source of data. http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/ (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/) is great for recording cetaceans but I'm not aware of anything for Mola mola.

I saw two together which I've only seen once before off the Devon coast, a friend saw two on the same day - They could have been the same ones? One well in excess of 100lb was landed and returned a few weeks back, so who knows what is going on.

Here's a few shots I managed of the South Devon ones...

http://www.theafricanqueen.co.uk/Album/images/Sunfish5_JPG_jpg.jpg

http://www.theafricanqueen.co.uk/Album/images/Sunfish_JPG_jpg.jpg

jac1791
12-Sep-07, 20:40
what beautiful photos!

northener
12-Sep-07, 21:38
Excellent shots!

Global warming? Unusual season? Just never spotted before? Intriguing....

SandTiger
12-Sep-07, 21:45
Northener, you might find this link on the North Atlantic Drift interesting reading - http://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/atlantic/north-atlantic-drift.html

northener
12-Sep-07, 22:01
So, in a nutshell, we can expect cyclical changes in North Atlantic temperatures in a 15 year-ish period. If I'm reading this correctly. It's a pity they don't quote temperatures on the same charts.
Following my ill - educated theory through, there's a very realistic chance that Sunfish could be fairly regular visitor to our sunny shores and have been doing so for a long time.

Bit like the recent Great White 'scare' down in the West Country - bl**dy things have been there for years and never come to the grockles attention, but the fishermen have known about them for a long time.

1000lb Tuna anyone? - Loads off Eire......

SandTiger
12-Sep-07, 22:07
Don't even go there with big Tunnies - Regularly spotted splashing 4 miles due north of Sandside area ;)

northener
12-Sep-07, 22:14
Don't even go there with big Tunnies - Regularly spotted splashing 4 miles due north of Sandside area ;)

I'll get me rod - 20lb braid and 4/0 shads'll nail dem Tunnies!

Seriously though, the Irish lads say they're incredibly difficult to contact with. Very loth to take the lures.

Worth a try though.........

SandTiger
12-Sep-07, 22:39
I'll get me rod - 20lb braid and 4/0 shads'll nail dem Tunnies!

Seriously though, the Irish lads say they're incredibly difficult to contact with. Very loth to take the lures.

Worth a try though.........

As far as I know the Irish lads have not connected with one for the last 4 years which puts it all on the back-burner for now :(

It's big Ocean out there that needs exploring.

kas
12-Sep-07, 22:46
Spoke to a guy who saw it, and he was sure it was a portbeagle. It was very fast moving and was chasing the mackerel. Baskings only eat plankton, but I never saw it myself, only passing on what I was told.

Jeemag_USA
12-Sep-07, 23:45
Why would a basking shark be in the harbour, very unlikely, its a filter feeder, it doesn't chase fish?? I'd say the most likely thing is it was a Porpoise, and someone just saw a fin and thought it was a shark. Porpoise I woudl think are the most likely thing to be chasing mackerel around the north, from my experience anyway. But I wasn't there so what do I know :Razz

Lolabelle
13-Sep-07, 09:00
It's really hard to say without any credible source of data. http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/ (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/) is great for recording cetaceans but I'm not aware of anything for Mola mola.

I saw two together which I've only seen once before off the Devon coast, a friend saw two on the same day - They could have been the same ones? One well in excess of 100lb was landed and returned a few weeks back, so who knows what is going on.

Here's a few shots I managed of the South Devon ones...

http://www.theafricanqueen.co.uk/Album/images/Sunfish5_JPG_jpg.jpg

http://www.theafricanqueen.co.uk/Album/images/Sunfish_JPG_jpg.jpg

What are these things, I have never seen anything like it??????????

buggyracer
13-Sep-07, 09:01
Deffo not a porpoise, those that seen it should know the difference lol, they were fisherman etc.

kaz2000
13-Sep-07, 09:02
i think they are sunfish i have seen them landed at e mart

SandTiger
13-Sep-07, 09:46
Spoke to a guy who saw it, and he was sure it was a portbeagle. It was very fast moving and was chasing the mackerel. Baskings only eat plankton, but I never saw it myself, only passing on what I was told.

Absolutely no reason why it could not be a Porgie - Either way a stunning sight. Do you know where it was spotted and over what time scale?


Why would a basking shark be in the harbour, very unlikely, its a filter feeder, it doesn't chase fish?? I'd say the most likely thing is it was a Porpoise, and someone just saw a fin and thought it was a shark. Porpoise I woudl think are the most likely thing to be chasing mackerel around the north, from my experience anyway. But I wasn't there so what do I know :Razz

Baskers are very inquisitive and have come right up to my boat and have been known to swim in less then 5 foot of water. The harbour could also include the larger area around the harbour confines. However, we also have large Porgies running these waters during the winter months so there is no reason why it could not be an early visitor?


What are these things, I have never seen anything like it??????????

They are Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) with a maximum published weight of 2,300.0 kg. See: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=1732

kas
13-Sep-07, 20:21
Not sure of the exact details, but it was not in the harbour for long a minuite or two at the most and it was wherever the marigold was berthed yesterday. I will try to find out the time of day.

As far as Baskings go, there was one in the harbour last year. I saw it myself and watched it in the bay afterwards with scope. I saw 5 baskings in the bay last summer, one of which was full size, it was huge.

SandTiger
13-Sep-07, 20:33
Possibly beyond the link span of the Ola then?

As for the Basker in the harbour last year a few boats were advised to avoid it over the vhf as they were coming in :)