Sunbathing sunfish mellows in Courtmacsherry

IN THE sporadic appearances of summer last week, anglers and their boats went to sea, and even the ocean sunfish were basking, writes Donal Hickey

It is thought that these weird fish (so many fish are “weird” that I use the word advisedly) do actually lie flat on the surface to bask.

Normally, these fore-shortened, tail-less fish swim laterally, the dorsal fin of the rounded body pointing skyward, the other toward the depths. But when the sun shines, they often lie on the surface like a very unusual flatfish, presenting themselves to the warming light or to gulls that might do them the favour of picking parasites off their grey and shimmering skin.