Florida Deputy Rescues Giant Sunfish

Credit: Volusia County Sheriff’s Office

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Florida – A Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputy rescued an Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola), that was lodged between sand and a concrete structure on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Ocean Sunfish are the heaviest of all the bony fish, with large specimens reaching 14 feet vertically and 10 feet horizontally and weighing nearly 5,000 pounds. Their food of choice is jellyfish, though they will eat small fish and huge amounts of zooplankton and algae as well.

The species is classified as vulnerable threatened due to population decline.