Biggest Fish Ever Caught
A fish is a very interesting marine creature, mainly because of its
diversity. It comes in various shapes and sizes, which are all cold-blooded or ectothermic aquatic vertebrates. The different species of fish vary in sizes, which can be as small as the 8-millimeter long stout infant-fish or as big as the 16-meter whale shark. In addition to these highly interesting facts, there are more to learn about them including information about the biggest fish ever caught.
Information on the Biggest Fish Ever Caught
The largest species of fish today is Rhincodon typus or the whale shark, which is a shark that is known for its filter feeding and slow moving behaviors. On November 11, 1947, the biggest whale shark was caught close to the island called Baba, a place that is close to the City of Karachi in Pakistan. It measured 12.65 meters or 41.50 feet long. In addition, it weighed close to 47,000 pounds. Its girth alone measured 7 meters or 23 feet.
Outside the whale shark, a British traveler named Carl Pashley caught one of the largest fishes ever recorded, which was a tarpon. He caught the fish from deep within the River Gambia in Africa, the length of which was 2.44 meters or 8 feet. It weighed more or less 303 pounds.
Additional Facts and Other Interesting Details
Unlike most sharks, the whale shark is a filter feeder, just like two other species, namely the megamouth shark and the basking shark. Its diet includes krill, plankton as well as macro-algae. Additionally, it also feeds on small nektonic life like small vertebrates or squids. Furthermore, it also eats the larvae of Christmas Island red crabs. Although its mouth is filled with numerous rows of teeth, they actually have no role in the process of eating.
Although it has a very large body, the whale shark poses no significant harm or danger to human beings. In fact, it can be playful and gentle when dealing with divers. Despite the presence of this giant fish, snorkelers and divers can swim freely. Today, captive whale sharks are featured as main attractions in places like the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, which is one of the biggest public aquariums worldwide found within the City of Osaka in Japan.
Other locations that feature this large species of fish include the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta as well as the Kenting National Museum of Biology and Aquarium in Taiwan. Some of the major locations where this kind of fish can also be found include the Christmas Island and the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.
