Dolphin sightings in the Chesapeake Bay becoming more frequent

SOLOMON'S ISLAND, Md. (ABC7) — Some surprise visitors were caught on video off the coast of Ocean City.

A group of fishermen were shocked to see a massive whale shark, the largest known fish species, leisurely swimming near their boat.

Whale sharks are rarely seen this far north, and it's the first time anyone can remember seeing one near Ocean City.

Meanwhile, encounters with dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay used to also be a rarity, but not anymore.

This summer, huge pods of dolphins are being spotted bay wide, even as far from the ocean as Annapolis and north of the Bay Bridge.

Solomon's Island fisherman Mike Leonard says he sees them almost every day now.

"Usually you can get them to play in the wake of the boat," Leonard said.

So while people enjoy spotting groups of more than 100 at a time, scientists have started to ask why they're here.

"We're currently going through a lot of data," said Leila Fouda.

Fouda is part of a Dolphin Watch team studying the phenomenon at the University of Maryland's Chesapeake Biological Laboratory.

On Thursday, ABC7 News' Brad Bell didn't see any dolphins in Solomon's Island, but so many people have been seeing them that the lab has created an app where people can report sightings.

Take a look at the map of sightings they have so far below:

"We can be hoping that the water is getting healthier so more prey species in the water and they're travelling up the bay and more people are seeing them," said Fouda.

If you travel to the bay, keep your eyes open on the water. you never know what will surface.