Basking sharks were spotted by Cape Cod anglers multiple times last week. On The Water’s Kevin Blinkoff took a few photos while bluefin tuna fishing off Chatham, and Phil Buzby (who shot this awesome video) spotted one (or perhaps the same one) around Provincetown a few days later.
Basking Shark Facts (Courtesy of the New England Basking Shark & Ocean Sunfish Project):
- Second Largest Fish in the World (Whale Shark #1)
- Typically grow 20 to 28 feet, but can grow up to 40 feet
- Spend the Spring, Summer and Fall in colder waters and migrate to more tropical waters in the Winter
- Feed by filtering larger zooplankton like copepods, fish eggs and fish larvae through their large mouths
- Listed as a protected species in US waters
The On The Water staff is made up of experienced anglers from across the Northeast who fish local waters year-round. The team brings firsthand, on-the-water experience and regional knowledge to coverage of Northeast fisheries, techniques, seasonal patterns, regulations, and conservation.