SAN PEDRO, Calif. (KABC) — Anglers along the Southern California coast are reporting rare sightings of marine life typically found in warmer waters, a trend they say has accompanied this year’s El Ni\u00f1o conditions.<\/p>\n
At a marina in San Pedro, fishermen returned after a day and a half on the water with what they described as an unusually successful catch.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetween 15 anglers, it was about 140 tuna fish,\u201d Charlie Burkhardt said.<\/p>\n
They say sometimes a good day can produce only 15 to 20 fish.<\/p>\n
Fishermen say warmer water associated with El Ni\u00f1o has brought species more commonly found in tropical environments closer to the Southern California coast.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came back with a swordfish yesterday, and they\u2019re right off the coast,\u201d angler Brian Dupuis said.<\/p>\n
They showed us images of manta rays in Southern California waters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey’re also called devil rays, which we normally never see here in our Southern California waters,\u201d said Marc Sonoda, captain of Amigo Sportfishing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt happens but pretty rare I\u2019d say once every few years yeah it\u2019s pretty special,\u201d said Harry Roberts of Tackle Express.<\/p>\n
Other unusual encounters have been reported farther south along the coast, including a blue marlin caught near Newport.<\/p>\n
Another crew recently reported spotting a hammerhead shark, a species that has appeared more frequently during recent years with warm water conditions.<\/p>\n
But with these appearances come consequences – some animals getting sick or stranded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve seen puffer fish, trigger fish, sea snakes, seahorses. We see more sea turtles pass through our waters and sharks and rays,\u201d said Nate Jaros, vice president of animal care at the Aquarium of the Pacific.<\/p>\n
For many fishermen, however, the unusual visitors have made for a season of remarkable sightings and unexpected encounters off the Southern California coast.<\/p>\n
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