Vacationers spot whale shark off Bunce's Pass

Published June 14, 2018 4:53 PM EDT

Scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory were excited by last week's sighting of five rare whale sharks off the shores of Anna Maria Island. 

Now, a week later, vacationers from Columbus, Georgia say they had a sighting of their own. 

Kami Dykes and Chuck Golden shared video they took on Wednesday, June 13. 

They were about 45 miles northwest of Bunce's Pass.

LINK: Rare whale shark pod sighting off coast of Anna Maria Island

Researchers ask anyone who spots a whale shark to take note of the time, date, and location - and then contact the Mote Marine Lab at (941) 302-0976.

The last sighting of a group of whale sharks off of the Gulf Coast was back in 2010, when a pod of 10 whale sharks was in the same area of the gulf.