A group of professional divers exploring the waters around California’s Catalina Island recently spotted a breathtaking sight: a massive, critically endangered giant sea bass gliding past them. Encounters with these gentle giants are rare — but the divers’ excitement quickly turned to alarm.
Something was lodged in the sea bass’s mouth.
Worried, the divers contacted Bleu World, an ocean conservation nonprofit based on the island. Bleu World divers were already preparing for a wildlife survey that day and promised to keep watch for the troubled giant.
Not long into their expedition, the team found the sea bass. And to their surprise, the giant fish swam straight toward them.
“I don’t like to give animals human feelings, but it truly seemed like it wanted help,” Bleu World founder Kayla Feairheller told The Dodo. “It would move closer to me … and even lift the fish’s tail toward my hand, almost asking me to pull it.”
The divers soon pieced together just how dire the situation was. The smaller fish jammed in the sea bass’s mouth had been stuck for an entire week — leaving the endangered animal unable to eat.
Before Feairheller could attempt a rescue, her air tank ran low. She had no choice but to resurface, leaving the struggling giant behind.
“I knew that fish needed help, and it was heartbreaking to have to swim away,” she said.
For any animal, suffering is painful to witness — but for a species as rare as the giant sea bass, it’s devastating. According to research by Andrew Pettit of Spotting Giant Sea Bass, only about 1,200 remain in Southern California waters.
Later that day, Feairheller and her team descended again, determined not to leave without helping the stranded giant.
This time, everything aligned. Feairheller reached out, grasped the tail of the lodged fish and managed to dislodge it. Freed at last, the giant sea bass shook its throat, the obstruction falling away for good.
Relief washed over the divers.
You can watch the whole rescue journey, captured on video by Reggie Farr, here:
“I was so excited. I had full-body chills for the rest of my dive … I couldn’t believe it had actually happened,” Feairheller said.
For a critically endangered species, saving even one life matters immensely. Thanks to Bleu World’s persistence — and one sea bass who seemed to trust the people around her — a magnificent animal now has a second chance.
To learn more about giant sea bass or contribute to ongoing research, visit Spotting Giant Sea Bass. To support Bleu World’s conservation efforts, check out their volunteer opportunities.
