A viral clip from Fistral Beach, Newquay, shows a giant bluefin tuna leaping from the water to catch a mackerel in front of surfers. The footage was recorded on Sept. 22 by Newquay Activity Centre manager Jacob Waller, 23, and has drawn online attention and some skepticism about its authenticity. Waller confirmed the video is genuine and noted bluefin frequent local waters from mid-summer to late autumn. The species' return to British waters follows recovery after heavy depletion in the 1990s, aided by international conservation measures.
Fin-credible Footage: Huge Bluefin Tuna Rockets Out Of Sea In Front Of Surfers
The moment a huge bluefin tuna leaps from the sea just feet behind surfers during a lesson. (Jacob Waller via SWNS)
A dramatic moment off Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall was captured on video when a huge bluefin tuna vaulted clear of the water to snatch a mackerel in front of a group of surfers taking a lesson.
The clip, filmed just before lunchtime on Sept. 22 by Newquay Activity Centre manager Jacob Waller, 23, shows an initial smaller fish leap from the sea behind the surfers, followed seconds later by an enormous bluefin bursting from the surface in pursuit.
The predator is visible almost completely airborne as it clamps down on its prey during what witnesses described as a feeding frenzy. The startling scene quickly attracted attention online, with some viewers questioning whether the extraordinary footage was genuine or digitally altered.
"It's a real video," Waller said. "We filmed it just before lunchtime at Fistral Beach, capturing the insane moment a bluefin tuna leapt from the water and caught this mackerel in its mouth. There was a bit of a feeding frenzy going on. It was an insane moment. We've been inundated with comments about it. It is real — they are in our waters; these bluefin tuna are here around mid-summer to late autumn."
Why This Matters
Bluefin tuna are among the largest and fastest predatory fish in the ocean. After a long absence from UK waters in the 1990s—caused largely by overfishing—populations have rebounded in recent years thanks to strict international conservation measures and better fisheries management.
The resurgence is particularly noticeable around Cornwall, where bluefin follow shoals of smaller fish close to the shore, occasionally producing spectacular surface displays like the one seen at Fistral.
Original post: The post "Fin-credible! Huge bluefin tuna leaps out of sea in front of surfers" originally appeared on Talker.
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