That sunfish ... is some fish!

By KIM DE LEIJER | 26th November 2009

Bay View beachgoers were left scratching their heads over the identity of a large whale-like sea creature that washed up on shore yesterday.

But the mystery was soon solved with Department of Conservation staff identifying the carcass as a Mola Mola, also known as a sunfish.

The large fish, weighing more than 450kg, was found by a local resident on the shore alongside Le Quesne Rd.

The woman had initially thought it was a whale calf.

DoC ranger Hans Rook said sunfish were more common in northern waters but often travelled along the East Coast this time of year with the warmer currents.

Mr Rook said about six sunfish had washed up on the beach during his 21 years as a ranger, including one on Ocean Beach. The last time one had beached was about eight years ago.

Mr Rook said it was likely the fish had died at sea and washed ashore as it appeared to have been dead for a long time.

The sunfish is the heaviest known bony fish and mainly feeds on jellyfish. They have rough skin, similar to a shark's, and spend a lot of time floating near the surface of the water.