Marlin Fishing Expedition Discovers 3-Meter Long, 64 kg Oarfish
A group of fishermen was out on the Cortez Sea off the coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico, fishing for marlin when they noticed something thrashing in the water. They soon realized that sharks were biting the tail of an oarfish.
The oarfish was attacked by a group of sharks. (Photo: Jam Press/Pisces Sportfishing Fleet)
They reached down into the water to pull the still-living fish onto the boat to protect it. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the oarfish died shortly after. The fish they caught measured approximately 3 meters in length and weighed about 64 kg.
The group then brought the fish’s body to a team of marine biologists in La Paz for research.
The fish was brought ashore for marine biologists to study. (Photo: Jam Press/Pisces Sportfishing Fleet)
Oarfish can grow up to 16 meters long and weigh over 200 kg. They live deep in the ocean, at depths ranging from 200 to 1000 meters.
As a result, sightings of this species are extremely rare, and one reason for this is the belief that seeing them on the surface or near shore is a sign of impending disaster—local people often believe these sightings herald natural disasters, earning them the nickname “earthquake fish.”
