Niño shifts exotic sea creatures to Southern California's coast: Here's what anglers are seeing | Jefferson City News-Tribune

Off Orange County and into Malibu, anglers are reporting an unusual surge of “exotic” marine life tied to super El Niño conditions. On a Wednesday morning, Captain Brandon Erdo’s 95-foot Dana Pride departed near capacity, with 37 of 40 angler spots filled, after social media chatter about exceptional fishing. Veteran angler Chuck Freeman caught an approximately 2-foot bullet tuna, followed by additional fish; scientists say the warming “blob” developing earlier this year is helping bring species typically found in the Indian and Atlantic or around Hawaii and the central Pacific closer to California. Observers have reported whale and hammerhead sharks, devil rays and other species. NOAA fish biologist Owyn Snodgrass said “the entire ecosystem has shifted.” While catches include tuna and marlin at record-like levels this year, scientists note the full repeat of past El Niño numbers isn’t matching last decade’s big event.