VENICE, Fla. — One group of boaters was hoping to come home from their fishing trip with a big catch, but they were shocked when they got an unexpected visit from the largest fish in the sea.
Ricky Beasley captured the incredible moment when a whale shark swam by his boat in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Venice.
He said in a Facebook post that they were about 30 miles out into the Gulf when they spotted the marine animal.
Beasley said they didn't want to disturb the whale shark by swimming anywhere near it. They admired it from the boat, as it looked "so graceful and peaceful." He did add that it stayed close by for a couple of hours while they fished.
Though its name is misleading, whale sharks are not whales at all, but the world's largest fish. They can actually grow up to 40 feet but still have teeth that are so tiny that they can only eat shrimp, fish and plankton, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Whale sharks are often called "gentle giants," as they are known to interact with divers and swimmers, the Florida Museum says. It adds that the creatures can be found in almost all tropical and warm waters throughout the world.
- Juneteenth officially a federal holiday as Biden signs bill into law
- Potential Tropical Cyclone Three expected to become Tropical Storm Claudette Friday
- Lightning take 2-1 series lead over Islanders with Game 3 win
- One-legged athlete has dreams to compete at CrossFit Games
- How to celebrate Juneteenth around Tampa Bay
- A Frank Conversation: New podcast explores race, religion, politics and more
►Breaking news and weather alerts: Get the free 10 Tampa Bay app
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for the Brightside Blend Newsletter