(Haipo) – Huge schools of minnows were photographed in September 2026 at Bat Galim Beach in Haifa. According to observations, this year's schools are the largest in the past five years. The fish were observed forming impressive defensive formations known as "fish balls," a natural phenomenon intended to protect against predators.
Unusual concentration of fish in the southern breakwater area
The phenomenon occurs regularly in the area of the southern breakwater head on Bat Galim Beach, but this year it is particularly noticeable. This year the beach is plagued by algae, some of which are dead, which causes a relatively low oxygen content in the water. As a result, the fish migrated and clustered precisely where the wave breaks create turbulence and good oxygen dissolution.
This enormous concentration includes several species of fish, including echinoderms, sardines, and also schools of grebes that are closer to the area between the rocks. The enormous concentration of thousands of individuals causes masking and prevents the penetration of the sun's rays. The grebes, which are dark-dwellers, also come out to the area.
"Fishball" – defensive behavior against predators
Schooling is a natural phenomenon in which a very large group of fish forms a formation known as a "fish ball." This is a distinct defensive behavior in which the predator sees many shimmering objects but has great difficulty perceiving individual parts of the school. However, predators such as sailfish, swordfish, and thresher sharks use their tails or swords to strike within the school and hunt down the injured.
Another interesting phenomenon is that schools are separate between species, and even within the same species, fish are divided into groups according to their size, which is determined by the time they hatched from the eggs - so that the same type of fish can be found in different sizes in separate schools.
It is very unfortunate that no one forces the prisoner to fish from a beach, and we swimmers are exposed to blatant behavior from some fishermen.
Amazing, unique and beautiful photography
Only professionals can...
Thanks to Moti Mendelsohn for this rare photo.
Happy New Year, Ural
Thank you very much for the compliment.
good week
Moti, a phenomenon that I think needs intervention and enforcement is the phenomenon of "sling" nets that are thrown from the shoulder and open in a large circle and catch small fish. We saw people last year who filled buckets with these bizarre fish, and it doesn't make sense to catch fish of that size, and I think enforcement by the authorities is needed.
Happy New Year, Ofrico.
You are right, there are rules regarding the mesh size of the net you fish with.
In the photographs in the article, most of the fish are at their maximum size.
And fishing is prohibited on beaches, so the fish have a safe haven here.
Thank you very much and have a good week.