Rare Oarfish Spotted Alive on Mexican Beach, Sparks Curiosity

PLAYA EL QUEMADO, Baja California Sur — A rare sighting of an oarfish, a deep-sea creature, captivated beachgoers on February 9, 2025, when the fish was spotted swimming near the shoreline at Playa El Quemado in Mexico. This unusual event was captured on video by Robert Hayes, a vacationing retiree from Boise, Idaho.

Hayes, who was walking along the beach with his wife, initially mistook the creature for a small alligator or baby shark. ‘The water was glassy, so you could see several feet into the water,’ Hayes recalled. ‘My wife’s first impression was that it was a small shark coming straight at us, and that’s when I started fumbling for the camera.’ The couple quickly realized it was an oarfish, which is rarely seen alive.

As the oarfish lifted its head above the water, a nearby Canadian fisherman quickly identified it, stating, ‘He’s come up here to die,’ indicating that the fish likely needed help. The fisherman attempted to guide the creature back into deeper waters, but it repeatedly returned to the beach. ‘We redirected it three times out to the water, but it came back each time,’ Hayes said.

The oarfish, known colloquially as the ‘doomsday fish,’ usually dwells at depths between 660 and 3,280 feet. Its appearances at the surface are often attributed to sickness or distress. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, wounded oarfish can sometimes wash ashore following storms or while dying.

Hayes noted observing a small wound on the fish’s face that appeared raw. After attempts to return the oarfish to safety failed, the fisherman announced he would take the fish to a marine biologist for further examination. Hayes expressed awe at the oarfish’s beauty, noting its ‘translucent orange fins,’ which he had never seen before.

Oarfish sightings have gained attention over the past months. Just last week, another deep-sea creature, a black seadevil anglerfish, was spotted near the surface off the Canary Islands. Earlier in November 2024, a 10-foot oarfish washed ashore in Encinitas, California, marking only the 20th documented sighting of an oarfish in California since 1901, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Ted Pietsch, a professor at the University of Washington, explained that while these sightings are intriguing, they do not necessarily signal broader health issues within marine populations. ‘They come up every once in a while. It’s called a ‘doomsday fish,’ because it’s supposedly a sign of doom or disaster,’ he said, referring to an outdated belief that oarfish predict natural disasters.

Pietsch expressed surprise regarding the vitality of the oarfish filmed by Hayes, emphasizing the importance of such findings. ‘Each specimen collected provides a unique opportunity to learn more about the species,’ he said.

For Hayes, the encounter was a highlight of his traveling experience. ‘This has been an amazing trip for my wife and me as we explore the outdoors and wildlife,’ he said. ‘Getting this footage has been really special for us.’ He hopes to capture similar moments in the future, noting the excitement of being in the right place at the right time.