‘Doomsday fish’ appears in Mexico—why this deep-sea creature sparks fear

A rare and mysterious oarfish, often linked to legends of impending disasters, was spotted struggling in shallow waters off the coast of Mexico earlier this month. The sighting, which took place on February 9, 2025 near Playa El Quemado beach in Baja California Sur, has sparked curiosity—and concern—among locals and social media users alike.
The oarfish, a deep-sea creature that typically resides hundreds to thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface, is rarely seen by humans. That’s why Robert Hayes, a beachgoer who witnessed the event, was stunned when the massive fish swam directly toward him and a group of onlookers. “The fish swam right towards us, lifting its head above the water,” Hayes told AccuWeather. Along with other beachgoers, he attempted to guide the struggling fish back into the ocean, but despite their efforts, the oarfish kept returning to shore.
A video of the rare encounter quickly went viral, with about 21 million views. An X user, named @FearedBuck shared the footage, writing, “A deep-sea creature rarely seen by humans called the oarfish has washed ashore in Mexico! Legend has it that this mysterious ‘doomsday fish’ only emerges from the ocean’s depths when disaster is near.”

In the comment section, one user commented, “Intriguing. So what disaster is close to happening now? And where will it happen?” Another noted, “What is going on in the bottom of the ocean that has all these deep sea fish suddenly surfacing?”
Last year, the rarely seen oarfish was seen at least 3 times. In the past few months, multiple oarfish have mysteriously washed up along the California coast, fueling intrigue about these deep-sea creatures. In August, a 12-foot-long oarfish was discovered by a group of kayakers and snorkelers at La Jolla Cove, San Diego.
The sightings continued in September, when another oarfish was found dead at Huntington Beach, Orange County, according to Ben Frable, a fish expert at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Then, on November 6, a 10-foot-long oarfish was recovered at a beach in Encinitas, about 25 miles north of San Diego. These unusual strandings have sparked curiosity and speculation about what might be bringing these elusive deep-sea dwellers to the surface.
Oarfish are long, ribbon-like fish with a distinctive red dorsal fin, and they usually live in deep ocean depths, rarely seen by humans.

According to Japanese folklore, the oarfish is considered a messenger from the sea god Ryūjin, warning of impending earthquakes. Dating back to 17th-century Japan, legends claim that these deep-sea creatures, also called "ryugu no tsukai" (meaning messenger from the sea god’s palace), surface before seismic activity. This belief, highlighted by Atlas Obscura, continues to fuel speculation whenever an oarfish is spotted in shallow waters.