Class A First-hand BFRO #11897

Three young adults encounter large aggressive biped while fishing the San Joaquin River

June 1991 about 1am Mendota, Fresno County, California 3 witnesses

Account

Three people were fishing at night at a pool on a river near a bridge when they saw a frightened coyote run past and heard splashes. A large dark figure standing waist-deep in the river about 40 yards away then threw boulders toward them, with the closest landing a few yards away and splashing water on them. The group shouted, reeled in their lines, and fled through trees and a field to their car. They returned the next day and judged the water depth and boulders inconsistent with a person.

Summary drafted by AI from the source report and checked by code before I publish it. The witness's own words remain with the publisher — read the original report .

What was reported

Every kind of observation in the account. Select one to find other encounters with it.

Sightings

Interaction

Described appearance

In the source's own words, field by field. Hover a field's marker to see where it was read.

Height src
between 8 ½ and 9 ft.
Build src
large size and broad stature
Hair colour src
dark
Face src
no facial features observed
Arms src
raised both over head to throw
Hands src
both hands used to lift and throw boulders
Posture src
standing upright waist-high in river
Other features src
hair-covered with shiny, wet fur

Facts & provenance

Each value names where it came from.

Date
June 1991
Stated BFRO report #11897 · BFRO report, labelled fields: Year, Month
Time of day
about 1am
Stated BFRO report #11897 · BFRO report, “Time And Conditions” section
Place
Mendota, Fresno County, California
Stated BFRO report #11897 · BFRO report, labelled fields: State, County, Nearest Town, Location Details, Nearest Road
Map point
36.78, -120.20 (± 1000 m)
Stated BFRO map layer · BFRO published map layer · read with 85% confidence
BFRO map layer point for report 11897 (3 decimals, no boundary)
Account type
First-hand
Derived BFRO report #11897 · BFRO report, “Observed” section
Witnesses
3
Stated BFRO report #11897 · BFRO report, “Other Witnesses” section
Figures reported
1
Derived BFRO report #11897 · BFRO report, “Observed” section
Witness was
fishing at night
Stated BFRO report #11897 · BFRO report, “Observed” section
Witness's word for it
dark figure
Stated BFRO report #11897 · BFRO report, “Observed” section
Source classification
Class A
Stated BFRO report #11897 · BFRO classification label

Evidence & investigation

What the source says was found or done. Claimed evidence is listed as claimed; the Anomadex has not examined it.

Investigated by
Bart Cutino (BFRO)
Other

clean boulders found on river bottom where splashes had been seen

Measurements: at least 30 to 40 lbs

BFRO report, “Observed” section
Measurement

water depth at location where figure stood, compared to companion's height

Measurements: 5 1/2 feet deep

BFRO report, “Observed” section
Other

The witnesses returned the next day by raft to check water depth and found boulders on the river bottom.

BFRO report, “Observed” section
Measurement

The witnesses returned the next day by raft to check water depth and found boulders on the river bottom.

BFRO report, “Observed” section
Follow-up

The witnesses returned the next day by raft to check water depth and found boulders on the river bottom.

BFRO report, “Observed” section
Follow-up

An investigator conducted a long phone interview with the witness years later to add details.

BFRO report, “Follow-Up” section

Source timeline

Every record this entry is built from, earliest known first. Records are versioned and never edited in place.

  1. Published 2005-06-14 Retrieved 2026-09-24 Version 1 Hash 7ff0b5bbedef
    BFRO - Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization
  2. BFRO map layer Reference
    Retrieved 2026-09-24 Version 1 Hash cfb8a3d423b7
    BFRO - Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization