After 40 minutes of struggle, the man finally pulled a giant oarfish measuring 6 meters long and weighing 130 kg ashore.
At Xianglan Beach in the town of Taima Li, Taitung County, Taiwan, China, a man named Lin Ifan was fishing when he unexpectedly caught a large fish.
On the beach, the oarfish was nearly 6 meters long and weighed about 130 kg. It is reported that Lin struggled for 40 minutes to pull the fish ashore. Initially, he thought it was an ordinary fish.
Everyone was visibly excited after seeing Lin catch such a large fish. Many people came to take photos with the giant marine creature.
The oarfish was nearly 6 meters long and weighed about 130 kg.
Ho Yuan-hsing, the director of the Fisheries Research Institute at the Eastern Marine Research Center in Taiwan, indicated that the oarfish caught by Lin Ifan belongs to the Russell’s oarfish, commonly known by the nicknames “Messenger of the Dragon Palace” or “Earthquake Fish.” According to this expert, oarfish usually only drift ashore when they are injured, ill, or swept in by waves.
Mr. Ho Yuan-hsing also mentioned that this is the first time he has heard of a fisherman catching an oarfish. When caught alive, this fish must be very healthy because if it were sick, it wouldn’t take the bait.
The large creature excited onlookers.
The giant oarfish was first described in 1772; however, it is rarely encountered as they live deep in the ocean. Giant oarfish are believed to inhabit depths of around 1,000 meters below sea level. According to scientists, oarfish are the longest bony fish in the world, with lengths that can reach up to 17 meters and weights up to 270 kg.
Oarfish have a silvery body and are sometimes referred to as “the king of herring” due to their similar external characteristics to this smaller fish. However, they are named oarfish because of their long pectoral fins that resemble oars.
Lin struggled for 40 minutes to pull the fish ashore.
There is not much information regarding the conservation status of the giant oarfish, as they are very rarely seen alive. According to information on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website, some people have eaten oarfish and reported that their flesh is very mushy and sticky.
Although oarfish may resemble a frightening sea monster, they have never been considered a threat to humans.
