Fish ID requried

[snapR]

Saturday was nice and hot so went down to Greenhills for a swim, brough a rod, but decided to leave the Mrs in peace and not flick out any worms for whiting. Also it was crowded.

Went in for a dip and saw a Red thing floating in the water. Swam a bit closer to see it sticking out of the water and a mass underneath it. Soon enough it washed on the shore and the crowds came in.

It was badly injured (looks like had a big taxi to the wrong area (trawler pick him up?)or swam to far from home or something)

Also when it was flapping around on shore, bits of oil were coming off it.

MAy have hit a patch of oil somewhere around kurnell?

Some hero tried to swim it out on his surf board to deeper water and that was the last we saw. It shouldn't have a knife put through it and put out of it's misery poor thing.

Anyone got an ID on this likely deep sea enigma?

Cheers

Dom

[ysamuel]

Is an Oarfish I believe

[snapR]

Did some googling and think it is an Oar Fish.

Can anyone confirm

[Krispy !]

Yep its an oarfish.

[PRED-ATOR]

mate very rare sighting to see an oarfish your lucky to see oen in the flesh.

they grow huge

[night_rider]

I'd say Oarfish, looks like they get HUGE too.

M

[piratesgold]

Weird or what http://www.seasky.org/deep-sea/oarfish.html

[Rafinx]

Weird or what http://www.seasky.org/deep-sea/oarfish.html

wtf to the picture of one on the rocks...... thats massive.

[Yowie]

A mate and I found one struggling in the surf at Merry Beach, about 40 years ago. A third of it's tail was missing, but what was left measured near 20 feet long.

Yowie.

[snapR]

Hi Guys,

Yes rare and the Oarfish do grow massive. Very lucky to see one in real life after some google searches! The colours were unreal the silver was almost like metalic and the red was mystical. Reminded me of a dragon.

Fisheries replied to my email and it isn't an Oar fish but a similar fish named the Crested Bandfish.

Sorry its a Crested Bandfish , its similar to the Oarfish.

----- Forwarded by /DII/NSW on 25/11/2011 11:21 AM -----

From: Fisheries Info/DII/NSW

Hi,

Its a Oarfish.

Prefers oceanic conditions far offshore, but occasionally found in estuaries and large coastal bays. Sometimes washed offshore during storms.

Regards