Strange Sardine Phenomena

Incredible swarms of fish form off coast of Acapulco : But was surge caused by tsunami thousands of miles away?

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Last updated at 8:31 PM on 12th March 2011

The shores of Acapulco 's beaches were this weekend teeming with masses of fish packed so tightly they looked like an oil slick from above.

Thousands of sardines, anchovies, stripped bass and mackerel surged along the coast of the Mexican resort in an event believed to be linked to the devastating Japanese tsunami.

Delighted fishermen rushed out in wooden motor boats, abandoning their rods and nets and simply scooping the fish up with buckets.

A man photographs a shoal of sardines off the shore of Acapulco

Fishermen flocked to the water to take advantage of the surge

Some experts believe the phenomenon is directly related to the Japanese tsunami

'There were about 20 or 30 fishermen and there were people who came with their kids to take advantage of it,' Carlos Morales said.

The fishermen attributed the strange phenomenon to the unusual currents unleashed by tsunami that followed the earthquake in Japan .

Experts couldn't be sure.

'It would fall into that category where you would love to make the connection, but who knows?' said Rich Briggs, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.

'Tsunamis can change local currents, but it's hard to make a firm connection.'

Fishermen in Acapulco say they have never see such large schools of fish so close to the coast

The fish were so tightly packed they looked like an oil slick from above

Some bathers steered clear of the mysterious event and kept out of the water