What was meant to be a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico in 2020 turned into something quite extraordinary, when the crew and passengers of Still Flyin Charters spotted something unexpected swimming in the water.
They gradually moved closer, hoping to work out what the mysterious creature was.
Was it meant to be bait?
The fishermen couldn't believe it when they noticed the creature had fur. They immediately scooped it up with a net, and the stunned crew found themselves face to face with a completely disoriented kitten!
Had it been swept out by strong currents, or was the tiny creature being used as shark bait? Heartbreakingly, this shocking practice has been reported more frequently in recent months.
A home for the stray
The boat immediately turned around and headed straight back to the mainland. Operator of Still Flyin Charters, Steve Crews, kept the kitten on his lap the entire time, even offering him a temporary home for the night.
Now the former stray lives with a friend of his, in a wonderful home with plenty of space to run and play.
Nobody ever managed to work out how he ended up in the middle of the ocean.