I remember my first time coming across one in my first boat, and the adrenaline rush it was to try and make it to safety. It made me fear traveling by boat until I was able to upgrade to the larger one. Now I go out ever two days to hunt them for meat. I know you can harpoon them, and drag them to shore but I've never really felt like doing that. Easier to just kill them for that fantastic meat and move on. Overall next to the rock gollems they're the one enemy I am on constant alert for. That is until I reach the plains.