Isla San Marcos Sea Story 09-01-07 ¡OARFISH!

[BajaMarita]

What an awesome looking fish. Thanks for the story and the great pictures.

[yellowtail101]

What an awesome story. A true once in a lifetime experience.

Thank you for sharing.....

[WIDEOPENBITE]

Thanks, Kid! No doubt some scientist types at Scripps would like to see this and interview you.

[WIDEOPENBITE]

ummmm.... One was caught in the near future? Sept. 11?

Just to clarify: Mike CAN and DOES give accurate fishing reports from the future.

[Kidjurel]

I want to book an oarfish trip. How's next week look??? Thanks

Guess it's Wenesday right? You're driving. Sure I'll be able to put you on some Oars.... NOT LIKEY.

Everyone else THANKS FOR YOUR POSTS and COMMENTS It was epic to say the least. Hours on the water = weird shit I guess, seen lost of stuff icluding these fish before (dead) Wasn't really ready for what happened, still in dis-belief. Least I can do is honor the oarfish with images that will last a life time. Cheers to All~

[markalico]

thats a beautiful animal, great pics

[DOS MAS]

Fing amazing as usual Kanzler, Nice pics!

[Big Dan]

very cool ,, reminds me of a tapeworm i got while in mexico

[Crackerjack]

Holy shit those are some very cool photos. I saw one once while on an oceanographic research vessel at the equator and 140 degrees longitude. It came up at night under the lights. Never seen anything like it.

Nice documentation of a rare event.

Looks nice and warm down there......

[BajaMarita]

I found this info on Oar Fish on Google.

Oarfish are large, greatly elongated, pelagic Lampriformfish comprising the small family Regalecidae.^[1] Found in all temperate to tropical oceans yet rarely seen, the oarfish family contains four species in two genera. One of these, the king of herrings (Regalecus glesne), is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest bony fish alive, at up to 11 metres in length.^{[citation needed]}
The common name oarfish is presumably in reference to either their highly compressed and elongated bodies or the shape and use of their pelvic fins. The family name Regalecidae is derived from the Latin regalis, meaning "royal". The occasional beachings of oarfish after storms, and their habit of lingering at the surface when sick or dying, have given oarfish a place in maritime folklore as the probable source of many sea serpent tales.
Although the larger species are considered game fish and are (to a minor extent) fished commercially, oarfish are rarely caught alive; their flesh is not well regarded due to its gelatinous consistency.