Archive · 15 Sep 2025
Rare Sunfish Washes Ashore in California
Imagine you're at the beach and see a really strange fish!
That's what happened in California.
People thought they saw sharks, but it turned out to be a sunfish, a type of fish that lives in the open ocean.
This specific sunfish is called Mola tecta, and it's a rare sight on the California coast.
Experts from all over confirmed it was a sunfish.
The park officials posted about it on Facebook.
It's like seeing a creature from a different world!
A large, unusual fish washed ashore in California.
Visitors initially reported sharks near the jetty at Doran Regional Park.
Rangers identified the creature as a sunfish (Mola tecta).
This is a very rare sighting for the California coast.
The identification was confirmed by a researcher.
- Who
- Park visitors and rangers
- What
- A rare sunfish washed ashore and was identified
- When
- September 10 (reported)
- Where
- Doran Regional Park in Bodega Bay, California
- Why
- The sunfish was washed ashore, causing a rare sighting and initial confusion about the animal's identity.
- Event
- Sunfish washed ashore
- Location
- Doran Regional Park, Bodega Bay, California
- Fish Type
- Mola tecta (Sunfish)
- Identification
- Confirmed by a New Zealand-based researcher
- Initial Report
- Visitors reported sharks near the jetty
- Sighting Rarity
- Very rare for the California coast