Fishermen near the Gökçeada district in the northern Aegean Sea encountered a rare and colossal sunfish, weighing approximately one ton and measuring 2.5 meters in length. Engaged in swordfish fishing, the crew was astonished when the gigantic creature got entangled in their gear. After a prolonged struggle, the sunfish approached the surface before freeing itself from the line and returning to its natural habitat.
Fisherman İlker Özdemir from Gökçeada, Turkey, set out to sea on his boat named Kızılelma, accompanied by his son Efe and two friends. They deployed their longline fishing gear and were patiently waiting to catch swordfish. As they began to reel in the lines, they noticed an immense fish in the water. "While we were fishing for swordfish with our boat named Kızılelma, a gigantic creature got caught in our gear. After struggling for a long time, we realized that the fish visible in the water was an incredibly large sunfish," Özdemir recounted, according to CNN Türk.
"These animals eat plankton. Therefore, I think the probability of them getting caught in longline gear is less than one in a thousand," he stated, as reported by Aydınlık. The sunfish, known for its massive size and unique appearance, typically feeds on small organisms and is not commonly attracted by the bait used for swordfish. This made the encounter even more extraordinary for the fishermen.
Despite their efforts to bring the sunfish aboard, the creature ultimately freed itself from the line. The fishermen watched as it returned to the depths of the sea. Özdemir felt sad not about losing the sunfish, but about losing the parakete hook, as reported by Haberler.
The remarkable moment was captured on a mobile phone camera by Özdemir's friends, preserving the rare encounter. "The sunfish can grow 2-3 meters," he noted, referring to the size of the specimen they encountered.
Reflecting on the experience, Özdemir emphasized the importance of marine conservation. "This big catch once again showed how rich our seas are. However, I want to remind that this richness needs to be protected in order to be sustainable," he explained, according to Yeni Şafak. Emphasizing the responsibility of those who make their livelihood from the sea, he added, "As Turkish fishermen, our duty is not only to fish but also to protect our seas and pass them on to future generations."
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq