Surfer stumbles on sea creature in Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - A surfer in Santa Cruz did a double take when he spotted a sea creature near his board.

Eric Mendelson posted a photo on Facebook showing a surfer at Cowell's Beach on Monday coming close to what appeared to be a shark fin.

Turns out, Mendelson said, it was actually the dorsal fin of a sunfish.

A sunfish expert told SFGate that sunfish are common in Monterey Bay and they pose no threat to humans.

The sunfish (Photo by: myLoupe/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)