Anglers near San Clemente Island encountered a rare whale shark alongside a Newport Beach charter, highlighting unusually warm ocean conditions off Southern California. A marine heatwave that began in 2025 — potentially prolonged by a strengthening El Niño — has brought tropical species such as yellowfin, dorado, wahoo and marlin into local waters. Separately, a commercial bluefin tuna was processed at 446 pounds; had it been caught under qualifying recreational rules, it could have challenged California's sportfishing records.
Rare Whale Shark Sighting Off San Clemente Island Highlights El Niño-Driven Tropical Shift
A massive whale shark "swim" among schools of fish in Factory Obscura's new "Seed Reef" temporary exhibition Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Created by local artists Emma Difani and Malcolm Zachariah, in collaboration with Factory Obscura, "Seed Reef" is an immersive, sculpted paper installation that recreates a coral reef. Seed Reef 11 | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Anglers aboard a Newport Beach charter targeting yellowtail had a startling close encounter this week when a massive whale shark appeared alongside their vessel near San Clemente Island. The sighting underscores unusually warm ocean conditions that have been reshaping Southern California's marine life.
Rare Sighting Near San Clemente
The trip out of Newport Beach came unusually close to the world's largest fish — a species rarely seen in Southern California waters. At one point, fishermen debated entering the water for a closer look. Whale sharks are filter feeders that consume plankton and other tiny organisms and are generally considered harmless to people, although this individual briefly brushed against the boat.
Warm-Water Species Moving North
Along with the whale shark, other warm-water visitors such as large manta rays have been turning up in California. A marine heatwave has affected waters off California since 2025, and meteorologists say a strengthening El Niño could help prolong those warmer conditions. As a result, boats operating out of San Diego are reporting catches typically associated with tropical waters — yellowfin tuna, dorado (mahi-mahi), wahoo and marlin.
Notable Catches
San Diego dock tallies on September 15 recorded hundreds of yellowfin and dorado, plus wahoo and striped marlin. Point Loma reports noted one four-person charter that returned with eight dorado, a wahoo and two striped marlin that were released.
In a separate commercial rod-and-reel operation last week, crew members landed a bluefin tuna initially estimated at nearly 500 pounds. After being gilled, gutted and displayed at Tommy Gomes' Tunaville Market and Grocery in Point Loma, the fish weighed 446 pounds. Because the fish was taken commercially, it could not qualify for California's recreational sportfishing records; had it been landed under qualifying recreational rules, it might have challenged the state record.
“We both got a look at it, and we didn't even say anything,” said Markus Medak of Shearwater Fishing, describing the massive tuna. Medak told local FOX 5 television that he landed the fish with help from another angler.
Multiple Whale Shark Reports
The San Clemente encounter was at least the second widely reported whale shark sighting in Southern California within about a week. Days earlier, a private pilot who helps spot fish for commercial operations filmed another whale shark estimated at roughly 14 to 16 feet long between Malibu and Santa Barbara Island.
What This Means
These sightings and tropical catches illustrate how shifts in ocean temperature are changing local fisheries and wildlife patterns. Anglers and scientists alike are monitoring how an ongoing marine heatwave — combined with El Niño conditions — may continue to alter species distribution, recreational fishing opportunities and commercial catches along the California coast.
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