<markers><marker lat="43.751507" lng="-69.777260" mo="08" dy="25" yr="2007" watertemp="1" behavior="laying on side, basking, moving slowly" marks="two small scars- propellor cuts?." comments="mouth of kennebec river in Maine. very impressive sight!" landfall="" /><marker lat="44.225521" lng="-68.902130" mo="08" dy="25" yr="2007" watertemp="12" behavior="lethargic, laying just at the surface, with it\&amp;#39;s dorsel fin flapping to and fro, almost looked like a piece of sea kelp.  We ha" marks="lots of barnacles on it\&amp;#39;s back" comments="Penoboscot Bay off Camden Harbor in Maine. fascinating!  We take passengers on two hour schooner sails on Penobscot Bay and they were very impressed with today\&amp;#39;s wildlife sighting, as I was!" landfall="" /><marker lat="50.096359" lng="-5.419865" mo="08" dy="25" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="look as if it were sunbathing" marks="" comments="to the east side of Cudden Point, in Mount\&amp;#39;s Bay, Cornwall, UK" landfall="" /><marker lat="42.638943" lng="-70.588585" mo="08" dy="23" yr="2007" watertemp="18" behavior="laying on side" marks="none" comments="3 feet chop 15kts wind" landfall="" /><marker lat="44.391720" lng="-68.194801" mo="08" dy="29" yr="2007" watertemp="15" behavior="swimming/circling" marks="" comments="The captain of a local schooner which runs three trips every day has only seen a couple of ocean sunfish here over decades of sailing. There was one in the area two years ago as well. I was the park ranger/naturalist on this trip, and 86 passengers got to" landfall="" /><marker lat="47.613571" lng="-125.244141" mo="08" dy="26" yr="2007" watertemp="15" behavior="laying on right side" marks="none" comments="I saw 4 different sunfish on my way out to tuna fish.  They were miles apart.  There were thousands of small jellyfish looking specimens all over the place out there." landfall="" /><marker lat="56.934860" lng="-135.768707" mo="08" dy="18" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="laying on side" marks="grey with whitish spots near the tail" comments="There were a lot of humpback whale sighted that day (4-5 in one group). You could hear the whales making noise (a lower pitch grunting type of noise). We were in a 20 foot sport fishing boat going from Biorka Island to Sitka point on the ocean side of St." landfall="" /><marker lat="42.652016" lng="-70.545792" mo="08" dy="28" yr="2007" watertemp="11" behavior="Swimming, lethargic" marks="" comments="Length is an approximation as we did not catch this fish but observed over the side of our boat. There were both finback and humpback whales in the immediate area (within 1 nautical mile)" landfall="" /><marker lat="47.136490" lng="-122.642014" mo="08" dy="23" yr="2007" watertemp="13" behavior="swimming at surface, some basking on side" marks="none" comments="Also spotted two days prior in same area, photos available on request" landfall="" /><marker lat="56.701488" lng="-5.093536" mo="08" dy="06" yr="0000" watertemp="0" behavior="beached on its side" marks="" comments="this was 2006" landfall="" /><marker lat="48.165257" lng="-53.951519" mo="08" dy="29" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="laying on side" marks="none" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="49.496674" lng="-55.519409" mo="08" dy="29" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="laying on side..sun bathing" marks="none visible" comments="We got really close in our boat...could touch it if I had wanted to...it was the first sunfish we have ever seen...got lots of pictures..it was really exciting!!" landfall="" /><marker lat="32.407791" lng="-117.825623" mo="06" dy="24" yr="2007" watertemp="15" behavior="swimming" marks="none" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="46.679592" lng="-124.365234" mo="08" dy="26" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="" marks="BEACHED" comments="it was beached and still alive in Longbeach Washington, I helped it back in the water, took about 20 minutes and then watched it to make sure it was ok, two sea lions in the area so we all watched to make sure they didn\&amp;#39;t get it,  We took a video and hav" landfall="" /><marker lat="42.293564" lng="-72.070312" mo="08" dy="27" yr="2007" watertemp="17" behavior="eating/ per lifeguard" marks="" comments="I believe there were seals nearby.  The water teperature was warm although I do not know exactly.?70\&amp;#39;s maybe.  We were on Maguires Landing beach in Wellfleet Massachusetts on Cape Cod.  The original thought was we were seeing a shark.(to the public)  The" landfall="" /><marker lat="41.518345" lng="-70.592995" mo="08" dy="24" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="lethargic" marks="cut on the head above the mouth" comments="The fish was moving slowly and stayed at the surface.  I circled it several times and it did not dive more than a few feet.  It often broke the surface with its dorsal fin." landfall="" /><marker lat="43.325176" lng="-70.400391" mo="08" dy="25" yr="2007" watertemp="62" behavior="active" marks="none" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="44.213711" lng="-69.027100" mo="08" dy="25" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="swimming" marks="barnacles" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="35.532227" lng="-67.653809" mo="06" dy="12" yr="2007" watertemp="23" behavior="sunbathing" marks="none" comments="Open ocean on Marion-Bermuda yacht race - one of two seen in same day" landfall="" /><marker lat="42.543468" lng="-70.840874" mo="08" dy="31" yr="2007" watertemp="12" behavior="laying on side at top of water, swimming slowly" marks="few scratch marks along dorsal side, between head and fin" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="41.112469" lng="-70.664062" mo="08" dy="20" yr="2007" watertemp="21" behavior="swimming" marks="did not notice" comments="It was very close to the shore, we were in our boat in the breechway in charlestown RI. We thought it was a shark, but another boater told us it was a sunfish." landfall="" /><marker lat="44.446774" lng="-68.272133" mo="08" dy="17" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="swimming" marks="" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="50.336395" lng="-4.195490" mo="09" dy="01" yr="2007" watertemp="-8" behavior="laying on side" marks="" comments="was shore fishing in the plymouth sound cawsand .it was probbably the size of a dustbin lid . laying on its side .noticed it becouse of pectoral fins on surfice .was also seagulls near .my first thoughts was that it was dying .i hope this halps in your research . will look out for it on shore line . we have also resident grey seals.porpoise.and yearly sightings of basking sharks and dolphins.and recantly lots of jelly fish please contact me if anything i have told has bean helpfull " landfall="" /><marker lat="50.030075" lng="-5.077701" mo="09" dy="01" yr="0000" watertemp="16" behavior="Laying on side" marks="" comments="Small mackerel in area. Spooted near between Coverack and Manacle rocks" landfall="" /><marker lat="42.691017" lng="-70.623207" mo="08" dy="27" yr="2007" watertemp="15" behavior="lethargic" marks="beard around mouth" comments="This mola mola was 200 yards from shore.  Have pictures if needed. I was with a dive boat named Easy Diver out of Gloucester, MA. Fred Calhoun captain. Photos may be seen on there web site. They also took video.  easy-diver.com" landfall="" /><marker lat="51.211361" lng="-4.111451" mo="09" dy="01" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="laying on side" marks="none" comments="we were on a pleasure cruise down the bristol channel and as we docked in ilfracombe the sunfish surfaced about 20 feet away, i managed to get a couple of pics and a small vid clip with my camera before he swam away. there was no other sea life in the vicinity apart from a few gulls" landfall="" /><marker lat="57.287949" lng="-135.854187" mo="08" dy="29" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="laying on side, sank as approached it" marks="none,  seemed white from what we could see" comments="We saw the fin a quarter mile away, thinking it may be a shark we raced over towards it,  as we arrived it -seemed- to just slowly sink,  I think the water was 55 degrees, we in hindsite did see quite a few jelly fish on our trip. the fins on each side and huge width is what helped ID it later on the net,  we had seen at Monterey previously.  Awesome site!" landfall="" /><marker lat="46.253471" lng="-123.975906" mo="08" dy="29" yr="2007" watertemp="17" behavior="slowly swimming" marks="" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="26.115986" lng="-90.703125" mo="00" dy="00" yr="0000" watertemp="0" behavior="" marks="" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="43.808765" lng="-69.408875" mo="08" dy="28" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="laying on side" marks="not noticable" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="41.812267" lng="-70.191650" mo="09" dy="02" yr="0000" watertemp="20" behavior="laying on side, lethargic" marks="2 scapes: 1 above nose and 2 near top fin" comments="Appeared tp be approximately 4 feet long.  Weight not known.  I did not disturb the fish except to observe.  Fish sighted a few miles west of Billingsgate buoy in Cape Cod Bay." landfall="" /><marker lat="50.751663" lng="-56.143913" mo="08" dy="28" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="lethargic" marks="Teeth Marks on tail." comments="It was injured,, possibly from a shark attack.  I have pictures." landfall="" /><marker lat="40.422253" lng="-73.944679" mo="09" dy="09" yr="2007" watertemp="22" behavior="swimming slowly" marks="" comments="The sunfish seemed to swim up to our boat while we were drifting. This happened once before with a sunfish which definitely swam up to our boat and even gently nudged the bottom of the hull." landfall="Sandy Hook, New Jersey" /><marker lat="0.000000" lng="0.000000" mo="08" dy="30" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="Swimming with fin out of water.  At a distance we thought it was a shark until we drove closer to it ... about 5 ft away." marks="it was gray on top." comments="We were fishing for strippers and blues in the area.  It was about 1 mile out from Plum Island MA in about 60 ft of water. It was the first I have ever seen and was not sure what it was until another boat that was also near it informed us that it was a ocean sunfish." landfall="" /><marker lat="37.160316" lng="-123.222656" mo="09" dy="01" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="laying on side/basking?" marks="none" comments="Unfortunately I did\&amp;#39;nt take the time to measure the mola that we came in contact with.My best guess is that it was about 30\&amp;quot; long and pretty close to the same in height.We were actually fishing for rock fish and ling cod when we spotted an unusual fish lying on its side at the surface.We were actually able to net record and release this fish.Of the three of us on the boat none had ever seen a fish like this one and it was a pretty amazing experience.If I can be of any assistance or if you need any more info please feel free to contact me.Sincerely L. Austin" landfall="" /><marker lat="48.458351" lng="-52.382812" mo="09" dy="03" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="" marks="" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="43.771095" lng="-69.625854" mo="09" dy="02" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="laying on side, lethargic" marks="none" comments="seen from our sailboat- probably 3 feet across" landfall="" /><marker lat="40.590347" lng="-73.751244" mo="09" dy="03" yr="2007" watertemp="19" behavior="swimming,lethargic" marks="a gash where the top fin meets the body" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="52.158772" lng="-128.540039" mo="09" dy="01" yr="2007" watertemp="59" behavior="laying on side, flopping about" marks="" comments="jelly fish, needle fish, mackerel, and precious little salmon" landfall="" /><marker lat="29.228889" lng="129.726562" mo="07" dy="29" yr="2007" watertemp="15" behavior="lethargic" marks="none" comments="First time ive seen them in Okinawa. Not sure if its a normal occurence" landfall="" /><marker lat="54.582806" lng="-8.427544" mo="09" dy="01" yr="2007" watertemp="17" behavior="swimming, active" marks="none" comments="small fish (approx 40cm long. encountered during scuba dive. I am a PADI dive instructor and was leading a dive of several experienced divers. Fish was approx 2m below surface and was actively swimming" landfall="" /><marker lat="41.927059" lng="-70.102730" mo="09" dy="02" yr="2007" watertemp="18" behavior="laying on side, lethargic" marks="none" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="-4.280000" lng="11.120000" mo="09" dy="05" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="laying on side, drifting at surface" marks="" comments="I am a Marine Mammmal Observer on a seismic survey vessel. I have a picture if you are interested." landfall="" /><marker lat="42.837208" lng="-70.803619" mo="08" dy="25" yr="2007" watertemp="18" behavior="Laying on side" marks="Several noticable cuts before dorsal fin" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="50.071480" lng="-5.539384" mo="09" dy="01" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="active" marks="" comments="seals and basking sharks" landfall="" /><marker lat="42.695305" lng="-70.630241" mo="09" dy="03" yr="2007" watertemp="17" behavior="laying on side" marks="black fins out of water" comments="1 mile off halibut point in rockport, massachusetts. neil 11 years old spotted him, thought he was a diver, and i thought it was a large sea turtle. probably 200 pounds, small i suppose compared to what we\&amp;#39;ve since learned. maybe the masterus with the black fin? also observed a group of 25-30 north atlantic dolphins frolicking at about 1 mile further north. lousy fishing that day, but great sightseeing for all of us. thank you. watched tierney\&amp;#39;s video." landfall="" /><marker lat="42.613750" lng="-70.543213" mo="08" dy="26" yr="2007" watertemp="18" behavior="swimming on the surface, came close to our boat, looked at us, swam around the boat and then submerged" marks="none noted" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="42.555103" lng="-70.687408" mo="08" dy="26" yr="2007" watertemp="18" behavior="laying on its side" marks="none noted" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="40.360020" lng="-73.961510" mo="09" dy="05" yr="2007" watertemp="68" behavior="swimming" marks="none" comments="Water was clear, sunfish was sighted directly next to boat off port stern. It swam away after feeling a fishing like it brushed against." landfall="" /><marker lat="56.559483" lng="-0.703125" mo="08" dy="27" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="active on side" marks="" comments="only saw the fin going round in the water whilst on a dinghy on the Moray Firth to watch dolphins. The Ecoventure people in Cromarty may be able to give more details, as I couldn\&amp;#39;t see all of it, but skipper said it was a sun fish, and was quite unusual so far north." landfall="" /><marker lat="43.826599" lng="-69.612122" mo="07" dy="18" yr="2007" watertemp="14" behavior="floating on surface" marks="" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="50.064194" lng="-125.156250" mo="08" dy="08" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="laying on side" marks="" comments="We are in the this area fishing for approx. 2 weeks each summer for the past 15 years and we normally see at least one Sunfish. Always wondered what they were." landfall="kyuquot, BC. Canada" /><marker lat="42.714417" lng="-70.773415" mo="09" dy="08" yr="2007" watertemp="16" behavior="Active and playful" marks="Spots, Grey &amp; white, some barnacles on grey side" comments="Outgoing tide, hot day (96 degF) 60 ft of water, 1 mile NE of southern tip of Plum Island, Ipswich, MA. Shut down engine. Fish approached the boat and gave us a good look, circled the boat, then swam away to the northeast. Schools of bluefish in the area, and lots of bait fish like sand eels. Note: This time of year there is an abundance of scalp in the area." landfall="Bar Head, Plum Island, Ipswich MA" /><marker lat="41.420074" lng="-70.303574" mo="08" dy="28" yr="2007" watertemp="18" behavior="Swimming" marks="none noticed" comments="" landfall="Nantucket, MA" /><marker lat="50.454006" lng="-128.111572" mo="09" dy="08" yr="2007" watertemp="8" behavior="coasting" marks="none" comments="" landfall="Winter Harbour" /><marker lat="41.508575" lng="4.570313" mo="09" dy="12" yr="2007" watertemp="21" behavior="lying on side with birds arround then swam down, but stayed around coming back up - one of us jumped in and didn\&amp;#39;t seem to mind" marks="didn\&amp;#39;t notice any" comments="didn\&amp;#39;t sea other sea life - just a few gulls above on water brought attention to it" landfall="between collioure and port vendres off french med coast" /><marker lat="42.535122" lng="3.076859" mo="09" dy="13" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="swimming, on surface then vertically just below surface" marks="not noticed" comments="half a mile off the coast, some gulls sitting on surface near it" landfall="" /><marker lat="46.890701" lng="-124.140701" mo="08" dy="15" yr="2007" watertemp="10" behavior="on side" marks="scars by mouth" comments="" landfall="Westport, Washington" /><marker lat="42.821911" lng="-70.807144" mo="09" dy="13" yr="2007" watertemp="12" behavior="erraticaly,active" marks="none" comments="i didn\&amp;#39;t catch him....it was just swiming around my boat,looked like it was hurt at times coming up to the surface than at times looked like it was fine." landfall="salisbury ma" /><marker lat="43.158394" lng="-70.614967" mo="09" dy="13" yr="2007" watertemp="13" behavior="swimming-lethargic" marks="several barncles or lesions on the forward section" comments="First sighted the side fin waving above the surface. Closed for a better look. The sunfish ignored us and slowly moved along. I would estimate lenght between 4 and 5 feet" landfall="York Beach" /><marker lat="-33.916012" lng="18.360214" mo="09" dy="15" yr="2007" watertemp="13" behavior="laying on side" marks="" comments="Spotted three wales, hundreds of dolphins and a penguin, when sailing from Hout Bay to Cape Town (20nm).  Was approximately 1m in diameter." landfall="" /><marker lat="36.902683" lng="-122.493439" mo="09" dy="15" yr="2007" watertemp="15" behavior="Swimming with the boat drifting at approx 1kt" marks="no, clean approx 20 to 30 inches in length" comments="I took several digital pictures I could e-mail if any one is interested" landfall="Santa Cruz" /><marker lat="51.179344" lng="-135.175781" mo="08" dy="00" yr="2007" watertemp="-17" behavior="active" marks="" comments="I was salmon fishing and saw 2 of these go by our boat" landfall="Illwaco" /><marker lat="54.227310" lng="-4.691505" mo="09" dy="12" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="Swimming" marks="" comments="Seen in Peel Harbour Isle of Man" landfall="" /><marker lat="51.179344" lng="-4.394531" mo="09" dy="06" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="Active. Surfacing" marks="" comments="Seen surfacing and then diving. Gannets, various species of gull. We were taking mackerel on feathers. " landfall="Milford Haven" /><marker lat="43.362129" lng="-124.366608" mo="08" dy="22" yr="2007" watertemp="17" behavior="lethargic" marks="none" comments="This fish was very curious as to what we were doing (we were in a small boat, doing some salmon fishing). As we stopped to bait up, the Mola circled our boat several times. The Mola would surface and dive to a depth of aprox 3 meters and surface again. " landfall="Coos Bay" /><marker lat="44.637390" lng="-124.189453" mo="09" dy="14" yr="2007" watertemp="10" behavior="laying on side, lethargic" marks="large yellow spot on top side of head and also on left side (like a bruise)" comments="largest one about 10+ feet yellowish white except for the spot on head and side of head which was yellow and orange.  Snagged it by a fin it pulled up to the boat easily, did not fight or try to swim away was able to pull the hook out of the fin where it caught ( it felt like sandpaper).  It was right up against the boat and stayed there until it lazily swam away after a minute.  The other one was smaller, same color without the spots, swam slowly away we were about 6-10 feet away.  incredable  " landfall="newport, or" /><marker lat="51.130001" lng="-9.360000" mo="09" dy="13" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="swimming" marks="" comments="Not the first sighting" landfall="Kenmare Bay, Co. Kerry, Ireland" /><marker lat="56.583313" lng="-2.493896" mo="09" dy="18" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="yes encirlced the boat then went deeper down and lost site of it" marks="N/A" comments="We where engaged in hauling a fleet of creels when this fish swam by very slowly with its dorsal fin out of the water and on its side at times then it slowly swam down and out of site.The fish was swimming in a NE direction" landfall="Arbroath" /><marker lat="43.689720" lng="-69.664307" mo="09" dy="19" yr="2007" watertemp="12" behavior="swimming, active" marks="scar behind dorsal fin" comments="finback whale" landfall="Boothbay Harbor, ME" /><marker lat="42.080006" lng="-70.227013" mo="08" dy="27" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="thrashing" marks="" comments="Unsure which type-fin looked black from the shore." landfall="Provincetown" /><marker lat="38.373154" lng="-123.102837" mo="09" dy="01" yr="2007" watertemp="56" behavior="Swimming normally at surface" marks="" comments="I recall seeing these more often in the mid to late 80\&amp;#39;s near point reyes. " landfall="Bodega bay/salmon creek" /><marker lat="45.089035" lng="-125.859375" mo="08" dy="16" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="laying on side, floating, started swimming after touching fishing line that was in water" marks="none" comments="Ocean was flat, it was a sunny day, several fishing boats in the water. When I first saw it I thought it was a dead carcus of some kind until it touch my fishing line and began to swim.  After swimming for 10-20mins it went back to floating on side.  Also sighted whales nearby." landfall="Garibaldi, OR" /><marker lat="42.032974" lng="-68.906250" mo="09" dy="22" yr="2007" watertemp="12" behavior="swimming, laying on side" marks="" comments="" landfall="Portsmouth, nh" /><marker lat="41.869560" lng="-70.356445" mo="09" dy="20" yr="2007" watertemp="12" behavior="swimming &amp; laying on its side" marks="it looked like barnicles or something a whale might have on it!" comments="one of them had a little perch like fish swimming with it maybe a form of tiger barb or something like that!their were whale not far tuna bluefish stripers stuff like that but it about 200ft.deep and the molas the 3 we saw were on the surface but they were by them selfs and spaced out I would say 5 to 10 miles apart from one another I don\&amp;#39;t much about these it was the first time I had seen one and i was amazed i took picture of them were fishing cape cod I don\&amp;#39;t know the quardinants but I\&amp;#39;m sure i could find them if nessasary I just wanted to report this to you guys. friendly fisherman Mike!" landfall="north plymoth" /><marker lat="50.568085" lng="-4.936123" mo="08" dy="07" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="On the surface with largest surface facing upwards and flapping fin out of the water" marks="" comments="We were fishing for Mackrel and also caught Pollock" landfall="" /><marker lat="53.392185" lng="-4.262352" mo="09" dy="22" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="swimming in a circle, perhaps concerned by boat props." marks="" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="54.287075" lng="-9.209976" mo="09" dy="23" yr="2007" watertemp="14" behavior="poor underwater vis - spotted basking on surface and during dive at 6 m" marks="none noted" comments="Dive this area regularly for last nuber of years - this is my first sighting at this location - most like  mola mola - approx 1m in length - quite shy " landfall="Kilcummin Head , Co Mayo , Ireland" /><marker lat="41.462795" lng="-69.575729" mo="09" dy="22" yr="2007" watertemp="15" behavior="1- swimming intop troll spread 2nd - laying on side" marks="Both fish had large growth above mouth on front forehead" comments="Position of sighting for both sun fish were approximatelty 30 NM south easst of the Southern tip of Monomoy Island. On West side of outbound shipping lanes from Boston. Position was west of the Regal Sword wreck. First fish swam into my tuna troll spread of plastic squid. I was moving forward as 2 - 2.5 MPH retrieving lines at the end of a Tuna troll. Fish swam 200 yards into final daisy chain still deployed. Second fish was approximately one mile futher east of first fish. Second sunfish was laying on its side surrounded by four sea birds floating or hovering near by. No injury noted. Both fish seemed in good condition." landfall="Monomoy Island Southern Point" /><marker lat="50.184429" lng="-5.611610" mo="09" dy="22" yr="2007" watertemp="19" behavior="Laying with left side upwards, flapping its fins then righting and diving. Not seen again." marks="none seen" comments="The fish was viewed close inshore from the South West Coastal Path (no more then 100yds off the cliff close to Porthmeor, Cornwall. The fish was quite large in size - possibly 4ft long. It was amazing!" landfall="" /><marker lat="44.323235" lng="-68.747459" mo="08" dy="26" yr="2007" watertemp="15" behavior="Lethargic, slowly drifting on the tide" marks="" comments="Water temperature is approximate.  The fish was flapping its dorsal fin above the surface slowly and stayed at the surface for at least 30 minutes.  I have pictures and some video, although none of them are very clear.  It was a very large fish, probably 4-6 feet wide and 6-8 feet long." landfall="Eggemoggin, ME" /><marker lat="41.873779" lng="-70.070625" mo="09" dy="24" yr="2007" watertemp="17" behavior="Swimming slowly in big circles through groups of ctenophores, listing left side down, unconcerned by pressence of boat" marks="1 remora/fins ragged trailing edge/colonial type growth around mouth/two scrapes right side just below and at base of dorsal fin" comments="there was a harbor seal that appeared to be checking out the mola when we first spotted it, lots of ctenophores in water, shallow sandy shoal area, fish was unable to swim upright even if it could. There were also about two dozen gray seals in the area" landfall="Wellfleet, MA, USA" /><marker lat="36.727329" lng="-3.763847" mo="09" dy="19" yr="2007" watertemp="24" behavior="Being cleaned, Calm and then swam off as we swan closer." marks="" comments="" landfall="Nerja" /><marker lat="41.341248" lng="-70.542870" mo="09" dy="24" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="swimming" marks="" comments="" landfall="Katama" /><marker lat="41.340858" lng="-70.540123" mo="09" dy="24" yr="0000" watertemp="0" behavior="swimming" marks="" comments="previously reported Ranzania laevis incorrectly.  Actual siting was for Mola mola" landfall="" /><marker lat="48.358074" lng="-53.313217" mo="08" dy="27" yr="2007" watertemp="9" behavior="laying on side" marks="none noted" comments="lots of jellyfish and minke whales" landfall="Trinity" /><marker lat="45.089035" lng="-58.095703" mo="09" dy="24" yr="2007" watertemp="16" behavior="laying on side" marks="not sure" comments="" landfall="howards cove pei" /><marker lat="46.895863" lng="-64.760284" mo="09" dy="23" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="laying on side" marks="" comments="" landfall="Kouchibouguac National Park" /><marker lat="41.467041" lng="-71.194580" mo="00" dy="00" yr="0000" watertemp="18" behavior="swimming on side and comming to our kayaks for a petting." marks="gray silver" comments="Seemed to like my red kayak and assumed that was due to the lerge patches of reddish krill in the area. This was my first mola encounter and was very eciting" landfall="Sakonnet point, Little Compton, Rhode Island" /><marker lat="26.519735" lng="-76.945496" mo="02" dy="00" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="swimming" marks="" comments="It was small about 18 inches in shallow water about 10 feet deep about 30 feet from shore. " landfall="Hope Town Abaco Bahamas" /><marker lat="41.815083" lng="-70.060844" mo="09" dy="30" yr="2007" watertemp="17" behavior="swimming upright slow at surface" marks="" comments="" landfall="Brewster, MA" /><marker lat="36.447800" lng="-4.641724" mo="08" dy="14" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="lethargic lying on side" marks="too far away to notice" comments="On a dolphin sighting boat trip saw no dolphins, but a strange looking fish which I think may have been a small sunfish. Difficult to judge size maybe about 40 cm long." landfall="Fuengirola" /><marker lat="27.542372" lng="-96.174316" mo="09" dy="08" yr="2007" watertemp="28" behavior="slow swiming" marks="yes but looked to a reasonable amount" comments="The deckhand swam with it for about 20 minutes.  We were 70 miles east of Port Aransas, Texas, in 1200\&amp;#39; of water.  The fish was healthy and very calm.  I can e-mail photos if you would like. I would estimate the weight at 500#." landfall="Port Aransas   Texas" /><marker lat="33.518497" lng="-118.284302" mo="07" dy="04" yr="2007" watertemp="23" behavior="Swimming in circles and sunning on surface." marks="" comments="seals and dolphins" landfall="Newport Beach, California" /><marker lat="43.824619" lng="-69.279785" mo="08" dy="27" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="Laying on side. Sunning?" marks="" comments="It looked to be around 3 to 4 feet long.  I had never seen a sun fish before and thought the fish was dead.  As I attempted to bring it aboard the boat it put up a fight and swam away.  I later found out that they are not dead, they are \&amp;quot;sunning.\&amp;quot;" landfall="Monhegan Island, ME" /><marker lat="41.836826" lng="-70.048828" mo="10" dy="02" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="swimming" marks="" comments="Observed off shore, Wellfleet Harbor, Massachusetts" landfall="Wellfleet, MA" /><marker lat="41.724819" lng="-70.268379" mo="10" dy="05" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="swimming on side at surface" marks="" comments="" landfall="barnstable.ma" /><marker lat="-8.713734" lng="115.450516" mo="09" dy="30" yr="2007" watertemp="19" behavior="Swimming, lethargic at cleaning station" marks="Parasites on eyelid - can forward photo" comments="Came swimming up to 25m past group of ten divers, turned and dived down to 45m where the vertical drop off started. Stopped at cleaning station where the bannerfish started cleaning him. He allowed approach of single diver to within arms length where the photographs of the parasites was taken with a Nikon D80 with a 60mm Macro lens" landfall="Lembogang, Bali" /><marker lat="39.806427" lng="-74.058838" mo="10" dy="06" yr="2007" watertemp="22" behavior="swimming on surface, fin comes out of water &amp; flops from side to side." marks="" comments="partial picture from cd video camera. no more than 1/2 mile from beach and north of Barneat Light House, NJ. We were recreational drift fishing." landfall="North of Barnegat Inlet" /><marker lat="45.858574" lng="-63.677444" mo="10" dy="03" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="" marks="" comments="Seen trapped in low water at low tide.  Department of Fisheries and Oceans rescued and took it to deeper water in harbour." landfall="Pugwash" /><marker lat="42.147369" lng="-70.690155" mo="10" dy="07" yr="2007" watertemp="15" behavior="laying on side" marks="prop scar across head" comments="" landfall="Scituate, MA" /><marker lat="32.346321" lng="-119.143982" mo="10" dy="07" yr="2007" watertemp="19" behavior="lethargic" marks="" comments="" landfall="" /><marker lat="41.348980" lng="-71.486664" mo="10" dy="11" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="swimming,laying on side" marks="not known" comments="swimming casually, off RI shore.  whiteish color. do not know speci. approx wgt guseesd at 200+ lbs. first i have ever seen." landfall="WATCH HILL RI" /><marker lat="41.736992" lng="-70.352837" mo="10" dy="13" yr="2007" watertemp="16" behavior="Dead on beach" marks="" comments="Noticed on beach. It was quite large, but I didn\&amp;#39;t measure it as it was partially buried." landfall="" /><marker lat="40.979897" lng="-69.960938" mo="10" dy="13" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="dead" marks="blood from mouth/blood on top of dorsal fin" comments="" landfall="Wellfleet MA" /><marker lat="68.432526" lng="17.747040" mo="08" dy="28" yr="2007" watertemp="14" behavior="" marks="" comments="This Mola was caught deep inside a  fjord  named Rombaksfjorden.  The water temp here is about 8-15 degrees C in  summer and 2-5 degrees C in winter. Its newer ice in winter because  gilfstream. From time to time there is caught small molas here. We call  them Månefisk (moonfish). The mola was caught with small fishing rod and spoon (look like small fish) It  was fighting about one hour before it was tired and the weight was 33  kilogram." landfall="Narvik, Norway" /><marker lat="-35.146862" lng="150.864258" mo="10" dy="14" yr="2007" watertemp="17" behavior="swimming" marks="not noted" comments="lots of dolphins,diving sea birds and a few seals active early morning" landfall="husskisson n.s.w" /><marker lat="41.930237" lng="-70.035484" mo="10" dy="18" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="dead washed up on tide line" marks="foot long scrapes on side of head above eye" comments="Sunfish lying dead in water at high tide line small sand colored fish schooling around mouth. Blues have been frienzying in harbor all week." landfall="wellfleet" /><marker lat="12.897489" lng="123.750000" mo="10" dy="17" yr="2007" watertemp="29" behavior="laying" marks="sucker fish" comments="" landfall="igang, nva valencia, guimaras, Philippines" /><marker lat="63.273182" lng="8.547363" mo="08" dy="14" yr="2007" watertemp="15" behavior="" marks="" comments="Weight 65 kilo" landfall="Kristiansund" /><marker lat="-31.959372" lng="115.752464" mo="09" dy="18" yr="2007" watertemp="17" behavior="lethargic" marks="" comments="" landfall="cottesloe" /><marker lat="-8.885072" lng="115.268555" mo="08" dy="16" yr="2007" watertemp="20" behavior="getting cleaned by moorish idols" marks="" comments="getting cleaned by moorish idols. then swam away..it was great." landfall="Dempasar" /><marker lat="37.055176" lng="-8.437500" mo="11" dy="11" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="near beach, swimmimg" marks="" comments="the hour i saw the mola mola was 1 four (launch hour). a fisherman told people in the beach that mola mola was very heavy and he trie to put him in deep waters but mola mola return to the beach. it seems to be lost" landfall="Armação de Pera, Portugal" /><marker lat="14.264383" lng="121.289062" mo="10" dy="28" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="Laying on side - dead!" marks="None" comments="" landfall="Whangarei" /><marker lat="23.775291" lng="57.881470" mo="11" dy="24" yr="2007" watertemp="28" behavior="Swimming" marks="no" comments="Observed at Dimaniyat Islands off the coast of Oman while diving in a group at around 12m along a island wall. came past us and circled back as if observing the divers and then circled back again before leaving at a fast pace." landfall="Dimanayat Islands" /><marker lat="-33.973545" lng="151.321564" mo="11" dy="25" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="bobbing around" marks="spots" comments="" landfall="little bay" /><marker lat="41.935871" lng="-70.027840" mo="11" dy="25" yr="2007" watertemp="5" behavior="dead, on shore, in inlet" marks="none noted" comments="animal was deceased, with large cut apparent from head to dorsal fin, perhaps a prop injury from one of the many fishing boats in the adjacent harbor. It seemed as if it were recently dead- for although the eyes were sunken there was little or no sign of scavenger predation." landfall="Wellfleet" /><marker lat="14.944785" lng="-95.273438" mo="11" dy="22" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="slow swimming, lots of surfacing of fin" marks="fin had bits missing from the back" comments="There were a lot of jelly fish that day.  Not totally sure it was a sunfish, but during research read they feed on jellyfish which were very prolific that day.  The guide with us said it was sunfish, but he wasn\&amp;#39;t sure." landfall="Puerto Angel, Oaxaca" /><marker lat="-0.074158" lng="-91.561432" mo="07" dy="09" yr="0000" watertemp="15" behavior="swimming Lethargic" marks="" comments="Hi Tierney, I caught your TED Talk on Molas this morning (better late than never) - Great work I enjoyed it very much. 

I was diving in Galapagos last year (2006) and saw one solo Mola - my first Mola sighting! So here is the report:

The year is 2006 not 2007 - appx 80 feet of water - temperature recorded at this time was 59F. The time was 17:57 GMT 1/100th sec f 4.5 40 mm lens at ISO 800 cropped moderately shot from about 30 ft away (Isn\&amp;#39;t digital great!) I estimate 7 Ft in height. The location is Roca Punta Vicente, Isla Isabela, Galapagos - appx S 0 deg 3.26 min - W 91 deg 33.68 min There was a large school of Salema and also a small sea turtle on this site but nothing else noted. No jellies.

Here is a link to some of my images, including the Mola photo - www.rwrcreatures.com - click on \&amp;quot;see and purchase images\&amp;quot; (don\&amp;#39;t buy any, I\&amp;#39;ll give you a hi res digital file if you like)and go to page 4 - thank you - keep up the great work!

Dick Rochfort - mail@rwrcreatures.com" landfall="Punta Vicente Roca, Isla Isabela, Ecuador" /><marker lat="42.028320" lng="-70.182037" mo="11" dy="25" yr="2007" watertemp="8" behavior="skulling of dorsal fin" marks="scrape on side above eye" comments=" The sunfish came up to the breakwater in Provincetown harbor near woods end and turned where we were standing and went back out toward the entrance of the harbor.The tide was on the way out but still very high
because of the full moon." landfall="provincetown" /><marker lat="42.553082" lng="-68.906250" mo="11" dy="29" yr="2007" watertemp="0" behavior="dead" marks="" comments="found on the beach sand in Jamesport washed in off Peconic Bay" landfall="Riverhead, Long Island, New York" /><marker lat="41.719250" lng="-70.633614" mo="11" dy="28" yr="2007" watertemp="10" behavior="dead. washed up on shore" marks="" comments="Length was about 4-5 feet. " landfall="Bourne, Ma." /><marker lat="-34.225430" lng="18.372231" mo="04" dy="11" yr="2008" watertemp="0" behavior="stranded on beach" marks="" comments="Spotted by Jules de Combs" landfall="Scarborough, Cape Peninsula, South Africa" /></markers>