Mysterious 'Doomsday Fish' Shocks Beachgoers as It Approaches Shallow Waters

A rare and eerie visitor from the deep left beachgoers stunned on Playa El Quemado in Baja California Sur, Mexico. A silvery, iridescent oarfish—dubbed the "doomsday fish"—surfaced in shallow waters, a sight most people only ever hear about in marine legends.

Robert Hayes, one of the beachgoers who captured the moment, described the fish's bizarre behavior: "The fish swam straight at us, lifting its head above the water about two inches." Despite several attempts to guide the creature back to deeper waters, it repeatedly returned to the shore. Talk about persistence—or maybe it just really liked the crowd.

The flat-bodied fish eventually stretched itself out on the sand, where curious viewers gathered to get a closer look. Another man in the video identified the mysterious deep-sea dweller and even tried to return it to the ocean. "This is amazing; it's the smallest one [oarfish] I've ever seen," he remarked while assisting the creature.

Oarfish, typically found at depths of 650 to 3,200 feet, are rarely seen by humans unless wounded or dying. This particular sighting has fueled speculation about its symbolic reputation. Often called the "doomsday fish," folklore links its appearances to impending natural disasters like earthquakes or tsunamis, according to the Ocean Conservancy.

Ben Frable, a marine expert from Scripps Oceanography, noted last year that more frequent sightings of oarfish could be linked to changing ocean conditions, possibly influenced by phenomena like El Niño or La Niña. However, he cautioned that this isn't always the case, leaving room for scientific mystery.

While oarfish can grow up to 36 feet long, this one was notably smaller. The Florida Museum describes the species as having a long, ribbon-like body with a reflective silver sheen. Its toothless mouth is perfect for filtering krill and crustaceans, and its vibrant red dorsal fin spines only add to its otherworldly appearance.

In the video, the man who identified the fish mentioned that he would have brought it to a marine biologist if it had been injured. The Florida Museum notes that oarfish are typically spotted on the surface only when in distress—a somber reminder that even ocean giants have their vulnerable moments.