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THE BRINY BLUE — If you've ever fished at sea, you know that birds often hang around the boat hoping for a snack.
A recently posted video shows that birds aren't the only creatures looking for a free meal.
The video begins with an angler holding out a baitfish to a pelican. The bird swoops in for the fish and then other birds begin maneuvering for the next bite. I've seen this happen on past fishing trips and have noticed that birds can get cranky if they're not getting food. They'll swoop and squawk and even try to nip your fingers with their beaks.
But none of that behavior happens in this video because an uninvited guest crashes the party. Yes, a sea lion emerges from the water and puts itself in prime position for the next fish.
🐟 An absolutely outstanding performance. Worth watching to the end. pic.twitter.com/784GSCJUvh
— Tom Boadle (@TomBoadle) March 18, 2021
While I couldn't help worrying that the sea lion might be injured by the boat's prop, the creature looks as calm as a summer morning as it hangs out on the back of the boat. According to some comments on the video, sea lions often visit boats like this in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and other fishing destinations. So I'm assuming that this one was a seasoned pro.
What makes this encounter noteworthy is that the sea lion had no time for anglers handing it an occasional fish. No, this audacious sea lion went right for the motherlode. Once it had grabbed enough food for the road, it lunged off the back of the boat and left the stunned and amused anglers shaking their heads.
