A video recorded in the waters of Miami sparked the curiosity —and incredulity— of thousands of users on social media.
In the images, a man is seen on a small inflatable raft raising what appears to be a huge swordfish in the air, while a young woman lying next to him records the moment with a GoPro camera.
The scene, filmed from another nearby vessel, was shared by the Instagram site Only in Dade and shows the supposed trophy already out of the water, motionless, with no signs of life.
In the video, no fishing poles, ropes, or traditional or underwater fishing equipment are seen on board, which makes the origin of the animal even more mysterious. Did he really catch it from the raft? Did he retrieve it while it was floating? Is it even a real fish?
The post, which quickly went viral on Instagram, has sparked a wave of comments ranging from astonishment to skepticism. Some celebrate it as a maritime feat, while others suggest it may be a staged event or even a dead specimen brought onto the raft for other purposes.
The video does not provide additional context or statements from the protagonists, so all theories are on the table. What is clear is that the contrast between the fragility of the inflatable raft and the size of the fish has been enough to turn this clip into a digital sensation.
In times where spectacle dominates social media, this curious episode raises a question: to what extent is the unusual enough to go viral?
Abundance in season: The swordfish reappears in the Caribbean and on social media
The swordfish (Xiphias gladius) is a migratory species that inhabits tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean.
Its fishing season in the Caribbean and Latin America runs from June to December, with peak abundance during the summer months when warm conditions enhance its breeding and feeding.
Recently, CiberCuba reported a remarkable catch of this species in Guantánamo, Cuba, where artisanal fishermen managed to capture a large specimen, along with another dozen striking specimens.
The shared images showed the fish on a horse-drawn cart, reflecting both the skill of the fishermen and the precarious conditions under which this type of cargo is transported.
This fact, along with the viral video in Miami, highlights the significant presence of swordfish in the region during this time of year.
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