Rare Basking Shark Sighted Off Southern California Coast, Delighting Whale Watchers Near Newport Beach

A whale-watching tour off the coast of Southern California experienced a rare encounter with a basking shark, typically found in cooler waters. The shark was spotted approximately 3 miles offshore between Balboa and Newport Landing piers. Basking sharks, the second-largest shark species, can grow up to 30 feet long and are filter feeders, consuming tiny crustaceans. They are often mistaken for predatory sharks but are considered gentle giants. This sighting is unusual because basking sharks are rarely seen in the warmer waters off California. The crew of the whale-watching boat initially mistook the shark for an elephant seal. The appearance of the basking shark has sparked curiosity about why it was present in the area.