Exotic Species Appear Off California During El Niño

Strange and exotic animals have been showing up along the California coast since a powerful El Niño weather event arrived in 2026. A venomous sea snake crawled ashore, whale sharks and hammerhead sharks cruised just offshore, and sea turtles nested on California beaches for the very first time. Scientists say the warm ocean water brought north by El Niño is pulling tropical species far outside their normal range.

El Niño is a natural weather pattern that happens every few years. It pushes warm ocean water farther north than usual, and tropical sea creatures follow that warm water. California was already dealing with an unusual marine heat wave before El Niño arrived, making conditions even warmer than normal.

Fishing businesses along the coast have seen big changes. Co-owner Donna Kalez of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching said anglers caught 5,000 yellowfin tuna in 2026, compared to just two the year before. Boats are also bringing in wahoo and dorado — a colorful, acrobatic fish also called mahi-mahi. "Dorado is very exciting because they're very acrobatic, so they jump out of the water," Kalez said.

Not everyone is cheering, though. Scientists are worried about kelp, a type of large seaweed that grows in cold water and provides habitat for many sea animals. If warm water stays too long, kelp forests could shrink and many species that depend on them could struggle. "For animals that can't move, that's a bigger problem," said Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach.

Several rare animals have already made headlines. In September, a yellow-bellied sea snake — one of only six or seven ever confirmed in California — swam ashore in Orange County. The snake is venomous, but it appeared sick, and a beachgoer used a palm frond to gently return it to the sea. The last confirmed sighting of this species in California was during the El Niño of 2015–2016.

Two new shark species have also been spotted in California waters. The whale shark, the largest fish on Earth, is a gentle animal that feeds on tiny sea creatures and poses no real danger to people. Hammerhead sharks, which look more threatening, have also been seen cruising near the shore. On top of that, a white shark nursery reappeared in Santa Monica Bay for the first time since 2011.

Two more firsts were recorded in September. A fisherman caught a longfin bigeye fish from the Venice Fishing Pier in Los Angeles — the first time that species had ever been recorded in California. Around the same time, two olive ridley sea turtle nests were found on Orange County beaches, marking the first time any sea turtle had ever nested on the U.S. West Coast.

Scientists say more surprises could still be coming. El Niño is expected to wind down and conditions should mostly return to normal by 2027. But the event has also caused serious problems, including hurricanes, rising sea levels, and large waves that have destroyed homes and stripped sand from Southern California beaches. "We still aren't fully through it," said William Ludt of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. "It's still very much ongoing."