Sounds like you guys ran across a school of Mola (sunfish). They have a long fins and often can be seen swimming with their fins up out of the water. This time of year they are common in open offshore waters. Your friend just needs to put some confidence in plastics and you already know what about to write but I'll write it anyway. If he puts some confidence in these baits and learns how to use them he will be blown away by how well they work and the amount of fish that they will produce.