A whale shark, the largest fish in the world, was filmed swimming alone between Malibu and Santa Barbara Island on Wednesday, Sept. 9, far north of the waters where the tropical species is usually found. The sighting came weeks after a hammerhead shark was captured on video near the Malibu Pier in August, and it adds to a growing list of warm-water visitors turning up in Southern California as coastal ocean temperatures run well above normal.

Carl Sbarounis, a spotter pilot who works with the commercial fishing industry, recorded the aerial footage. "A friend of mine found this whale shark while he was out scouting, and I was nearby, so I went over and grabbed my camera and, with my airplane, flew circles around the shark," he told KTLA. He estimated the animal at 14 to 16 feet long, small for a species that can reach about 61 feet. Sbarounis, who has worked as a fish spotter for more than 40 years, said he last saw a whale shark about three years ago.

For beachgoers, the news is more fascinating than frightening. Whale sharks filter-feed on plankton and are not considered a threat to people. The bigger practical concerns are for boaters and for coastal ecosystems already stressed by a long-running marine heat wave.

Researchers Tie the Visitors to Strong El Niño Years

Chris Lowe of the California State University, Long Beach Shark Lab said the pattern is familiar. "Normally when we have these strong El Niños, we get these subtropical visitors that come up from Mexico, which include whale sharks and manta rays, and smooth hammerheads," he told KTLA. He added that bull sharks and tiger sharks occasionally appear as well.

It may not be the only whale shark in the area. A Newport Beach fishing charter had a close encounter with a whale shark in the following days, and KTLA described it as at least the second whale shark encounter off Southern California within a week. Sbarounis also reported large numbers of devil rays moving between San Diego and Catalina. Nate Jaros of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach told the station the influx of tropical visitors will likely last only a few more weeks before coastal waters begin to cool.

Brendan Talwar, a postdoctoral scholar at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, called the whale shark a unique sighting and said the animals are expected to move back south as water temperatures drop, rather than staying through late winter.

The species of the August hammerhead near Malibu Pier was not identified in the reports reviewed for this story.

Record Ocean Heat Along the Coast

The backdrop is an ocean that has been running hot for months. NOAA's California Current ecosystem assessment, last updated Aug. 26, says El Niño conditions are present and expected to strengthen, with model forecasts suggesting a greater than 90 percent chance of a "very strong" event during November through January. It cites an experimental NOAA forecast showing an 80 to 100 percent likelihood of marine heat waves off California through the end of 2026.

That assessment adds an important caveat. A marine heat wave that NOAA has tracked off central and southern California since May 2025 is not directly due to El Niño, the agency says, although the developing El Niño is expected to prolong warm conditions along the coast.

At the Scripps Pier in La Jolla, the Shore Stations Program had recorded 42 days in 2026 with record-high temperatures for the calendar date as of Aug. 16, and record highs have been tracked at all 10 of its California stations, according to a Scripps explainer republished by Maven's Notebook. Scripps oceanographer Daniel Rudnick said temperatures along two underwater glider lines, off Point Conception and Monterey Bay, are the highest his team has seen in 20 years.

Scripps research oceanographer Art Miller expects the building El Niño to reinforce that warmth. "We expect that it would add to the strong, persistent regional ocean warming (marine heat wave) that has been prevalent off the U.S. West Coast and Baja since early 2026," he said in the explainer.

The evidence has limits. A single whale shark or hammerhead sighting cannot be attributed to El Niño alone, and the regional warmth began building before this El Niño matured. What researchers describe is a well-documented pattern in which warm years bring more subtropical species north.

Staying Safe Around Big Ocean Visitors

Lowe's main safety message was for people on the water. "So, if you're running your boat really fast and there are whale sharks around, if you hit one, it's literally like hitting ground," he told KTLA. "People have to be more cautious." Boaters in Santa Monica Bay and around the Channel Islands should slow down when they see large animals or feeding birds and give wildlife plenty of room.

Swimmers, surfers, and paddlers should not approach, touch or chase whale sharks or other sharks, even ones considered harmless. Follow lifeguard instructions and posted beach advisories, and report unusual sightings to lifeguards or researchers rather than moving closer for video. Drone operators should keep a respectful distance and follow local rules.

Warm Water Takes a Toll on Seabirds, Kelp and Shorelines

The warm water carries less photogenic downsides. Nature World News previously reported on record heat at Scripps Pier and dead seabirds washing ashore in San Diego. NOAA's assessment lists possible effects of a heat wave followed by El Niño, including declines in kelp, lower krill abundance, more harmful algal blooms and food shortages for seals, sea lions and seabirds.

Scripps coastal geologist Adam Young says strong El Niño conditions can raise sea level on the California coast by 6 to 13 inches (15 to 30 centimeters), which, combined with larger waves and heavy rain, can worsen erosion and coastal flooding. Scripps scientists also note that long-term tidal cycles peak around the end of 2026, bringing strong king tides around Christmas on top of El Niño's elevated sea levels. Coastal homeowners should watch for high-tide and high-surf advisories from the National Weather Service as the season turns.

What remains uncertain is how long the visitors will stay and how strong this El Niño's winter effects will be in Southern California. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center updates its El Niño outlook monthly, and Scripps plans to survey the entire California coastline in fall 2026 and spring 2027 to measure changes. Nature World News will follow new sightings and forecasts.

The bottom line: A young whale shark off Malibu is a striking sign of how warm Southern California's ocean has become, and shark researchers say more subtropical visitors are typical in strong El Niño years. The animals pose little risk to swimmers, but boaters should slow down, and everyone should keep their distance.

What Readers Want to Know

Where was the whale shark seen? A spotter pilot filmed it on Sept. 9 between Malibu and Santa Barbara Island, off Southern California.

Are whale sharks dangerous to swimmers? No. They filter-feed on plankton and are not considered a threat to people, though experts warn boaters to avoid collisions.

How big was it? The pilot estimated 14 to 16 feet. Whale sharks can grow to about 61 feet.

Why are tropical sharks showing up off California? Shark researchers say strong El Niño years typically bring subtropical visitors north from Mexico, and California's coastal waters have been running record warm during a marine heat wave that began before El Niño.

Was a hammerhead seen too? Yes. A hammerhead was filmed near the Malibu Pier in August. Its species was not identified in the reports reviewed.

How long will the visitors stay? An Aquarium of the Pacific official expects the influx to last only a few more weeks, and a Scripps researcher said the animals should move south as waters cool.

What should boaters and swimmers do? Slow down around large marine animals, keep your distance, follow lifeguard guidance, and report unusual sightings.