Massive endangered whale shark spotted lurking off coast of Malibu

A massive whale shark was spotted cruising between Malibu and Santa Barbara Island, offering local researchers a vivid glimpse of the exotic marine life migrating into Southern California waters.

The rare gigantic filter-feeder was first spotted by Ryder DeVoe last week before Carl Sbarounis, who flies for the commercial fishing industry, flew over to record aerial footage of the gentle giant.

“Ryder DeVoe found this 14 to 16 ft Whale Shark between Santa Barbara Island and Malibu. Sept 9, 2026. I happened to be nearby and came over to video and take some pics of it,” he wrote in the video’s caption.

Whale sharks are the largest living fish on Earth, capable of growing over 40 feet in length.

“Rare species are cruising through our SoCal waters. Hope to catch some more exciting species during this El Nino,” he added.

Despite their massive size, whale sharks pose no threat to humans, feeding exclusively on tiny organisms like plankton, krill, and sardines.

They thrive in warm tropical waters (70s and 80s °F) — well above California’s typical sea temperatures — and routinely gather in marine hotspots like Baja California, Australia, and the Persian Gulf.

Alongside the whale shark encounter, Sbarounis captured aerial footage of a school of spinetail rays drifting through Southern California waters last week — a rare sighting for a species that typically favors warm tropical seas.

Weighing up to 400 pounds with a massive 9-foot wingspan, these impressive rays are easily identified by their signature black marking across their back.

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