Basking Sharks

So I was on youtube a while back and I saw a link about the Panama City(Florida) Pier. And I decided to click it and se what the fuss was about. THERES BASKING SHARKS AROUND FL!!!!!!!!!! (I know I sound like a 2 year old but I LOVE SHARKS) Anyway heres the vid, and I kinda wanna go and try to see one =D even though I feel like it may be a one time thing.

That's too cool! I can't believe how clear the water is!

That shark is HUGE! Those kayakers better watch out!

Lucky its a plankton eater. Its funny because i was there two years in a row for a concert band comp, and the bridge was being built the second year. I never thought Basking sharks were this close to the US though. then I found out the dead 15footers have been washing up on long island where i was born.

Is it a whale shark?

The one in the vid? Basking. Believe it or not, the 2 biggest sharks alive today(that we know of) are plankton eaters. Thats why they swim kind of slow with their mouths open extremely wide. However the whale shark is kind of like a normal mouth and the basking sharks, to me, looks kind of like a butterfly net =P

Oh! I get it! I thought by "basking" you meant the shark was basking in the sun - I didn't realize that was a TYPE of shark...

Sam_G wrote:

Oh! I get it! I thought by "basking" you meant the shark was basking in the sun

Nooo! That's way to sad of a smiley

Hahahaha its ok Samantha

Those kayakers better watch out..


wouldn't want to be mistaken for an extra large zooplankton

Yeah lol the basking shark is the second biggest shark. Whale shark is the 1st, and one of the more awesome ones =]. however unlike the whale shark, basking sharks actually look like they would attack you, but the wont =P. and awesome pic mangoman, and i agree =D

If I saw one of those basking sharks, I'd be scared. It looks like something that would eat me...

Lol, yeah =/

I was in Panama City recently and I didn't get ANY sharks! ... though with their history of tiger shark visitors, that's probably ok.. lol I know we sometimes get whale sharks just outside of Sarasota bay! I would love to see one of the filter feeding species out there, very pretty.

PS- Panama City should be renamed "jellyfish land".. blegh

When was the video taken? Large sharks are often migratory in the winter months. That's why we sometimes get Great Whites in the Gulf, too.

Do we really get great whites?!?!?!?! I love sharks, some of you may understand. And sadly shark is my favorite fish to eat =/ but thats okay. I have seen 4 whale sharks, unfortunately they were in a 6.2million gallon tank but HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!! I would love to see a basking shark and a great white in person. I wish we just had more success in keeping great whites alive in captivity. Who knows, maybe one of us marine biologists will find a way =D

You've been to the Georgia Aquarium, too?! Isn't it amazing? I disagree about keeping great whites in captivity. It would take away some of the mystique about them. Plus, there are SO many more complications associated with keeping them.

Sharks are also REALLY HIGH in mercury and rarely are the correct species reported when brought to port (butchered at sea).. I wouldn't touch them!

Yeah but thats mostly because they bring sharks up in nets, dont know what they are and assume they actually know something. And as to keeping great whites. The reason I said that is because for some people the opportunity to actually see one may never arise. Keeping it in captivity would at least allow us to study its behavior 1st hand. And I know we cant keep them in captivity. I think china has tried and there is absolutely NOOO survival rate. And shark is not bad for you. I mean yeah its high in mercury, but its only bad in excess. EVERYTHING is bad in excess......I mean think about it.

Monterrey Bay aquarium already does keep great whites for a time in their bay-view tank. They are observed as they mature and are released after a certain amount of months. I think they are on their 3rd or 4th white. Either way, already on public view and surviving!