Rare Whale Shark Spotted Off California as El Niño Heat Rises A 14‑to‑16‑foot whale shark was seen cruising between Santa Barbara Island and Malibu, signaling a rise in tropical marine life due to El Niño-induced warm waters. A massive sea creature was spotted swimming in the Pacific Ocean about 300 miles off the California coast. A rare whale shark, measuring 14 to 16 ft long, was sighted gliding through the crystal‑clear waters between Santa Barbara Island and Malibu on Wednesday. Carl Sbarounis, a commercial fisheries pilot, was flying over the ocean when his friend Ryder DeVoe called to tell him about the extraordinary discovery."Found this 14 to 16ft Whale Shark between Santa Barbara Island and Malibu September 9, 2026. I happened to be nearby and came over to video and take some pics of it," Sbarounis wrote on Instagram."Rare species are cruising through our SoCal waters. Hope to catch some more exciting species during this El Nino," he added. Video taken by the pilot and shared on social media showed the giant fish cruising through the calm waters. The last whale shark Sbarounis saw was three years ago, and he told the Los Angeles Times that these rare fish "come through when the water is warm." "Mostly during El Niño," he told the outlet. "When the weather is nice, I see unusual stuff. " The footage, uploaded to Instagram and quickly shared across coastal communities, captured the gentle giant's elongated snout and detailed patches of small spots that glow like a living constellation against the deep blue backdrop. The whale shark, often mistaken for a harmless giant fish, is the world's largest shark species, capable of reaching lengths of up to 60 feet.Despite its massive size, it is a filter feeder, subsisting on tiny organisms such as zooplankton, krill, and small fish. Its presence off California is a cause for both excitement and scientific interest, as these sharks are primarily found in tropical and subtropical waters along the coasts of Australia, the Gulf of California and the Persian Gulf.Alongside the whale shark, Sbarounis reported spotting groups of uniquely colored manta rays, including tan‑brown rays and gray rays with a black stripe known as spinetail devil rays. These sightings further underscore the increasing prevalence of tropical marine life in California's waters, which are currently experiencing anomalously warm temperatures. Recent data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicate a 75 percent chance of a historically strong El Niño this winter.This climate phenomenon enhances surface water temperatures, reduces upwelling of cooler, nutrient‑rich deep water, and consequently alters marine ecosystems. The El Niño Southern Oscillation, a naturally occurring cycle, shifts between hot El Niño and cool La Niña phases roughly every two to seven years. As the world enters an active El Niño period, the trade winds that typically carry warm water from the equatorial Pacific toward Australia weaken or even reverse.This allows warm surface waters to accumulate off the west coast of South America, raising global temperatures and disrupting weather patterns worldwide. California's waters have been unusually warm, bringing more tropical creatures into the area, such as 200‑lb bluefin tuna that have also been turning up regularly off Northern California. Scientists say the warmth lurking beneath the surface is even more remarkable, with some underwater areas reaching a staggering 46F above normal.For September to November this year, the World Meteorological Organization forecasts indicate above‑normal temperatures across almost all land areas around the world. The sighting of the whale shark is a rare marine event that offers a window into how climate change and El Niño events are reshaping the distribution of species traditionally limited to tropical waters.It also highlights the importance of monitoring marine ecosystems as global temperatures rise and how these changes influence both commercial fisheries and recreational diving activities along the Southern California coastline. The ongoing El Niño could bring more encounters with large marine creatures, allowing scientists and local communities to better understand the ecological impacts and to plan for the increasing biodiversity in California's coastal waters