HELP: Weird unidentified creature!

[scrob]

When I was out in the boat yesterday I thought I saw a fin sticking out of the water. It was quite windy and flopping about from side to side, at first I wasn't totally sure if it was a fin or a piece of plastic so watched from a distance and then went for a closer look. When we went closer we could see a creature approx 3 feet long in the water and it was definitely a fin or a tail sticking about 8 inches out of the water and quite floppy, flapping from side to side in the water. Whatever it was, it was hanging around just below the surface and not going anywhere fast, however when we got closer it swam off and went down into the deep and didn't show again.

I can't for the life of my think what it could be, best I can think of was possibly a tope cruising along the surface?? Could this be plausible? We were in 70ft of water off Donegal.

Any ideas folks?

[davequirke@hotmail.com]

sounds like a sun fish pal

[JOHN1]

sunfish

[scrob]

By jez you could just be right! I have only once heard of one before and my neighbour caught it off Greencastle in the Foyle.

Are there many of them around Ireland? I've never seen one before.. but I think from looking at them you guys might just be right in your ID!

[JOHN1]

in all my years i have only ever seen one,about 8 years ago in Dublin bay i got up close to one no camera i managed to keep close to it for about 10 minutes before it went into the depts , we guessed he must have been around 50 to 60 lbs in weight

[Shambo]

By jez you could just be right! I have only once heard of one before and my neighbour caught it off Greencastle in the Foyle.

Are there many of them around Ireland? I've never seen one before.. but I think from looking at them you guys might just be right in your ID!

We came across one off Fanad Head around about this time last year.

[donal domeney]

Normally associated with warmer water heading our way during the summer

I would usually see 6 to 10 every year but I’ve yet to see one this year

a picture of one here
http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... SH#p173999

[Fishing4ever]

Defo a sunfish , would love to see one!

[chilly123]

Sunfish defo! Seen one in clare about 10 years ago on holidays

[scrob]

Well my mate was at the bow when I was steering the boat and after showing him a link online, he says it was definitely a sunfish!

Cheers for the ID, that was driving me mad!

Here's a cracker vid on youtube of one in Donegal..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hO5CybDNVs