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Group Spots Giant Whale Shark Off Coast of SW Florida
WOWT ^ | May 06, 2020 | Ed Payne

Posted on 05/10/2020 4:19:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Alexa Groat got the surprise of her life this week while on a deep-sea fishing trip off the southwest coast of Florida.

Whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet long and weigh an average of 20 tons. (Source: Alexa Groat) About 12 miles offshore, her group discovered a giant whale shark swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.

“We were in shock! I've lived in Florida my whole life and never have I seen anything like it!” Groat said. “Truly the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.”

She was out with a group celebrating her sister’s birthday.

Groat said she was tempted to get in the water with the creature recognized as the world’s largest fish.

“Oh my gosh, yes! It was so peaceful, and it coasted alongside the boat for a good while,” she said. “We all wanted to go for a swim, but we were afraid of what might be swimming along below it.”

Whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet long and weigh an average of 20 tons.

Despite their big size, they’re not dangerous to humans. They eat by filtering tiny plankton and fish eggs out of the water.


TOPICS: Local News; Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: florida; whaleshark
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To: HartleyMBaldwin

LOL! Similar but no harpooning of manatees occurred.

Strange but two different days the manatees were attracted to my girlfriend but not me.

I had that juvenile swim up to my boat but others surrounded her boat and that one pulled it along!

On another day in Crystal Springs we were swimming amongst a manatee pod? and one swam up to her and started sucking on her hair!


21 posted on 05/11/2020 7:20:11 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Obama Covid Liar Corrupt)
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To: HartleyMBaldwin
Don't know why this pic is so large. Anyhow, this manatee would not let my girlfriend alone. Bugged her, rolled on his back to have his belly rubbed and basically became her escort while we were here.


22 posted on 05/11/2020 7:42:12 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Obama Covid Liar Corrupt)
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To: VeniVidiVici
After you've entered the web address of the photo put width=500 and then close as normal with >.

Check the size in preview and adjust the number up or down to get the right size. This is your photo with width=500


23 posted on 05/11/2020 7:54:30 AM PDT by xp38
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To: xp38

Thanks!


24 posted on 05/11/2020 8:11:57 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Obama Covid Liar Corrupt)
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