A CORNISH wildlife photographer captured stunning images of the 'world's most expensive fish' leaping off the coast of Penzance.

Ross Wheeler, 37, caught the bluefin tuna breaching the surface as they hunted prey off the coast.

He described the fish - which can grow up to four metres long - as "the size of dolphins," and described how the school chased their prey towards the rocky coastline before going in for the kill.

Ross said: "I was on a marine tour just out of Penzance, just off the south coast of Cornwall. I thought they were dolphins at first. They were a similar size, if not bigger for some of them, than the common dolphins you see around the coast.

These stunning photos show the 'world's most expensive fish' leaping off UK waters. Wildlife photographer Ross Wheeler, 37, caught the bluefin tuna breaching the surface as they hunted prey off the coast of Penzance in Cornwall. He described the fish - which can grow up to four metres long - as "the size of dolphins," and described how the school chased their prey towards the rocky coastline before going in for the kill. "I was on a marine tour just out of Penzance, just off the south coast of Cornwall," said Ross.
Ross described the fish as "the size of dolphins”. (Picture: Ross Wheeler/SWNS)

"They were breaching just a few metres off the cliffs, so I went over and had a look - then was surrounded by these breaching bluefin tuna. I think they were going for garfish, driving them closer to the coast.

"The whole bay was full of them - but there was no way to tell how many were below the surface. It was quite a spectacle.”

Thanks to conservation efforts, Atlantic bluefin tuna can often be found off the coast of Cornwall in the summer, before they migrate to warmer waters in the winter.

These stunning photos show the 'world's most expensive fish' leaping off UK waters. Wildlife photographer Ross Wheeler, 37, caught the bluefin tuna breaching the surface as they hunted prey off the coast of Penzance in Cornwall. He described the fish - which can grow up to four metres long - as "the size of dolphins," and described how the school chased their prey towards the rocky coastline before going in for the kill. "I was on a marine tour just out of Penzance, just off the south coast of Cornwall," said Ross.
Atlantic bluefin tuna can be found off Cornish coast

In 2023, a small number of fisheries were permitted to fish for the tuna on a trial basis, with strict quotas in place to prevent overfishing.

Bluefin tuna is commonly known as the most expensive fish in the world, with sushi tycoon Kiyoshi Kimura forking out £2,022,784 for one in 2019 - the most expensive tuna ever sold.

As the majestic fish return to UK waters, Ross says he counts himself "extremely lucky" to have had the chance to witness their hunt.