Mola Distribution off North Carolina Coast 



81 



°c 





30-i 







28- 

 26- 

 24- 

 22- 

 20- 

 18- 

 16- 

 14 - 

 12- 





* • 

 + ■ 





Vv 



Gulf Stream v 





/ 





Shelf Break 



10- 





(ca 100 fathoms) • 



8 - 







-___ Near-Shore 



6- 



1 1 1 1 



i i i i i i i i 





JAN FEB MAR APR 



MAY jUN JUL AUG SEP OCT, NOV DEC 



N (4) (8) 



(3) (3) (1) (1) 



Fig. 1. Thermal distribution of Mola mola compared to surface temperature 

 gradients. Ranges and means of temperatures taken in immediate vicinity of 

 Mola (N = 20). Average monthly sea-surface temperatures for three areas of the 

 North Carolina continental shelf north of Cape Hatteras (from Newton et al. 

 1971). 



quite common. On 18 and 19 April 1980, 15 were seen each day despite 

 sea surface conditions that offered less than maximum visibility. Five 

 were counted on 14 May 1981, but on all other days only one or two 

 verifiable M. mola were seen per trip. Sunfish actually were more com- 

 mon than Table 1 indicates. I often observed two to three times as many 

 individuals as reported, but these sightings were not recorded, either 

 because specific identity could not be confirmed or because other survey 

 priorities were more urgent at the moment. 



The dearth of M. mola sightings during fall is difficult to explain, 

 especially since Anderson and Cupka (1973) stated that a boat captain 

 reported at least 30 molas (species undetermined) in late autumn of 1970 

 and 1971 off South Carolina. 



Local seasonality of occurrence of Mola based on beach stranded 

 specimens may be misleading. Along the Atlantic coast injured, sick, or 

 dead fish could be displaced long distances by the Labrador Current, 

 long shore current, or Gulf Stream. The fact that six of the seven M. 

 lanceolata from North Carolina (Brimley 1939, Funderburg and Eaton 



