Of all the things you might expect to see while walking through Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure, a guy showing off his freshly caught fish probably ranks pretty low.
Yet apparently, that’s exactly what happened.
An old photo from Universal Orlando Resort has found a new audience online more than a decade after it was taken. The image captures a man standing in Jurassic Park with a fishing rod.
Look a little closer, and things get much stranger.
There’s a fish hanging from his hook.
Yes, Someone Apparently Fished at Islands of Adventure
Amusement Buzz recently brought the story back into the spotlight after sharing the photo on X.
According to the account, the incident happened September 13, 2015.
“September 13th, 2015 a guy went fishing in the lagoon at Islands of Adventure I found this and had forgotten about this!” Amusement Buzz wrote.
September 13th, 2015 a guy went fishing in the lagoon at Islands of Adventure 😂 I found this and had forgotten about this! @UniversalORL pic.twitter.com/zLrK3kYbOo
— Amusement Buzz (@Amusement_Buzz) August 11, 2026
The accompanying image shows the man standing directly in front of the Jurassic Park Discovery Center.
He’s holding a fishing rod, and his catch is clearly visible hanging from the line.
There isn’t much information about how the situation unfolded. We don’t know how long he was fishing, exactly where he cast his line, or what happened once Universal Team Members became aware of the situation.
But the photo certainly makes for one strange piece of theme park history.
Islands of Adventure Isn’t a Fishing Spot
It probably goes without saying, but don’t plan on recreating this during your next trip.
Fishing in the Islands of Adventure lagoon is prohibited.
Universal Orlando also screens guests and their belongings before they enter its theme parks today, making the question of how someone managed to bring fishing equipment inside even more interesting.
Of course, the photo comes from 2015. Universal Orlando has changed considerably over the past decade, both in terms of attractions and the overall resort.
That includes the exact area where the man posed with his catch.
Jurassic Park Looked Different Back Then
When this photo was taken, Jurassic World VelociCoaster was still years away.
The coaster eventually opened in 2021 and transformed the Jurassic Park skyline. Today, guests walking near the Discovery Center can watch coaster trains race through inversions and soar above the surrounding area.
Universal Orlando has only grown since then.
Epic Universe opened in May 2025, adding an entirely new theme park to the resort and marking one of the biggest expansions in Universal Orlando history.
Still, some stories don’t need massive attractions to remain memorable.
A guest apparently walked into Islands of Adventure more than 10 years ago, went fishing in the park’s lagoon, caught a fish, and stood directly in front of the Jurassic Park Discovery Center for a photo.
The details surrounding the incident may have faded with time, but photographic evidence remains.
And that’s probably for the best, because without the picture, this Universal Orlando story would be pretty difficult to believe.
