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Article via Sarasota Herald Tribune — written By Billy Cox

SARASOTA – They were hardly moving, bouncing along at just 2 or 3 mph.

Sarasota fishermen about 14 miles off the coast of Big Pass encountered this whale shark, which they estimated to be 25 feet long. They got out of their boat and swam for a time with the harmless herbivore, which is the largest fish in the world and usually lives far offshore.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JASON NIPPERT WHALE SHARK:The Gulf oil spill may be pushing the giants
closer to shore

But for Sarasota friends Jason Nippert, Jon Macnut and Brett Simmons, a ride on the back of a giant whale shark in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico was the most thrilling voyage of their lives.

“I’ve been diving these waters since I was a little kid,” said Nippert, whose 23-foot boat was several feet shorter than the massive creature breaking the waves. “I never expected to see or do anything like this. It was a dream come true.”

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