Catch of 900-pound sunfish creates stir in Jamaica

The massive sunfish was so bizarre looking that Desmond Phillips, one of two Jamaican fishermen who caught the estimated 900-pound behemoth on Sunday, thought it was from another world.

“At first I thought it was an alien, and I was somewhat frightened,” Phillips told the Jamaica Gleaner. “It was difficult to bring the fish to the surface, and even more challenging to get the monster into the boat.

“When I realized what it was that we had caught, I said to my partner, Michael Grant, who is the boat captain, maybe we should release it.”

The two fishermen hooked the sunfish off Boston Bay and after a battle that lasted nearly two hours, Capt. Grant was determined not to let the unusual catch get away.


However, they were aboard a small boat and getting the enormous fish to shore proved to be more difficult than reeling it in.

They decided to tie it to the boat and motor to shore, but the boat could hardly progress because of the weight of the fish.

[Related: Workman Brothers notch two giant blue catfish just three weeks apart]

So they decided that the sunfish had to be brought on board.

“And after a lengthy period, and with water flooding into the boat, we finally brought it into the boat and set sail for Bryans Bay,” Phillips said.

Sunfish range throughout the world’s oceans, but they are not commonly encountered in Jamaican waters. And they’re quite the sight, roundish and blob-like, with truncated bodies, huge faces, and tiny mouths.

According to the Gleaner, word quickly spread of an “alien-fish” having been captured, and that lured dozens of curious people to the beach at Bryans Bay.

Many would eventually learn that these ocean sunfish, or Mola molas, can reach weights of 5,000 pounds, but are harmless omnivores that feed on sea jellies and other invertebrates.

“There is no need to fear it,” said Andre Kong of Jamaica’s Fisheries Division. “They are very docile and you can dive with them.”

For Phillips, according to the Jamaica Observer, it was his most exciting moment at sea since his catch of a 500-pound marlin two years earlier.

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Boy what a fish story..it's already gained 100lbs since I first read it days ago.:)

I saw the Gleaner article on this, but I'm callin' bull on the 900 lbs.

The guy on the right looks to be about 225, and there is no 'weigh' that the fish is 4 times heavier than he is. Also, according to www.savethemanatee.org, the average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds and I think the sunfish in the photo is about one half the size of an adult manatee. So, maybe 500- 600 pounds?

Very impressive fish though, I wonder how it tasted?

I saw this story in the Gleanor as well, I was also thinking it didn't look like 900 lbs. I was though trying to picture these two guys trying to pull that thing into the fishing boat!

The largest ocean sunfish ever measured was over 10 feet across, and weighed close to 5,000 pounds. On average, ocean sunfish weigh about 2,000 pounds. This makes them the largest bony fish species.

A sunfish was found dead on a beach here in New Brunswick Canada this week. It wasn't as big as this but just as fugly. ;-)

Attachment 31593 From Bouctouche NB Canada Nov 17th

"each time its "passed to the right"...it gains 100 lbs :)"

Whatever the actual weight may be, that is one Big HUMUNGO fish! If I saw that sucker swimming beside me, I'd be the second on the planet to walk on water! I would be outta there so fast! Bouctouche NB ... Jamaica .... wherever! In fact, I'd probably lose it if I were in a boat and saw it beside the boat! How does that beast even swim with those scrawny little fins by his gills?

Do they eat Sunfish ????? I find it kinda sad when this great creature who is a survivor is hung up for photos but when Shark eats Man we all GASP !