Rare Deep-Sea Anglerfish Washes Up in Southern California

A rare sighting of a deep-sea dwelling anglerfish washed up on the beach. Courtesy of California State Parks

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif.—State park and wildlife officials discovered a rare deep-sea creature washed up on the shoreline at El Moro Beach in the Crystal Cove State Park area earlier this month that belongs to the anglerfish family and is known as the Pacific Football fish.

Normally dwelling near the ocean floor at depths up to 8,200 feet, such fish have large mouths full of jagged sharp teeth with a protruding jaw line making it capable of eating prey its own size, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.