Scary Fish Expedition: Meet the Sea's Monsters

Do you believe in monsters? Do you think these are fiction and stories for children? Well, don't be so sure. What if they existed and seemed a lot scarier than you ever imagined?

The answer may be surprising to you, but monsters do exist. However, they are far, far away from you. They are located deep in the mystical waters of the ocean. 

This expedition takes us on a fascinating journey to meet sea creatures. Although the oceans are home to countless species of extraordinary and often unusual monsters, this story focuses on the most fearsome.

Meet the creatures that can send chills down your spine and ask whether they are real or a figment of our darkest imagination. Dive with us deeper into the ocean depths and learn about these Oceanic Leviathans as the secret and fascinating side of the world beneath the surface is revealed. Get ready for an unforgettable experience because the Scary Fish Expedition starts now.

Fangtooth Fish

The average size of Fangtooth Fish is 6 inches in length. It is recognizable by its long teeth that look very scary. This fish possesses an adaption that allows it to seal its mouth despite having the most prolonged teeth in the ocean relative to body size. 

It is one of the deepest living fish and has been discovered as deep as 16,404 feet; however, it is most frequently found between 1,640 and 6,562 feet. It spends the day in deeper parts of the ocean and migrates to shallower water at night to feed on fish and squid.

Anglerfish

The deep sea Anglerfish with angry expressions is entitled to be irritable. You wonder why? The answer is simple – this fish is probably one of the ugliest animals worldwide.

It is important to note that Anglerfish is not one type of fish; there are close to 250 kinds of Anglerfish. They primarily inhabit the depths of the Atlantic and Antarctic oceans, but they also swim in shallow tropical habitats. They are usually dark gray to dark brown and have gigantic heads and mouths resembling a crescent moon filled with pointed transparent teeth.

Female individuals exhibit a prominent feature – a dorsal spine extending above their lips, reminiscent of a fishing pole, from which they derive their name. This innate rod attracts prey by emitting a glow, enticing them close enough to be captured. Thanks to their expansive jaws and flexible bodies, they can consume prey twice their size.

Goblin Shark

The Goblin Shark is one of the creepiest creatures in the ocean. Because of this type of shark, people of the past believed in dragons and sea monsters. Its pink flesh appears to be missing its protective outer layer, adding to its disturbing appearance.

If these characteristics weren't sufficiently disconcerting, consider that the Goblin Shark is the largest fish on our list by a substantial margin. For many years, scientists believed they reached a maximum length of approximately 13 feet. However 2000, a colossal female measuring over 20 feet in length was captured in the Gulf of Mexico. To this day, we are still determining the actual upper limits of their size.

Goblin Sharks possess a leisurely swimming style, forgoing the pursuit of their prey. They remain motionless in the water, employing their extraordinary noses to detect the electrical signals emitted by nearby fish. Once a fish comes into proximity, the Goblin Shark deploys its jaws with a sudden and violent motion, swiftly ensnaring its prey by either slicing into it or swallowing it whole.

With its eerie appearance and sudden, lunging bite, the Goblin Shark strikes fear much like its more famous relatives – the Tiger Shark and Great White Shark. While those species terrify with their power and hunting skills, the Goblin Shark's bizarre look alone is enough to make it one of the most unsettling creatures in the depths.

In the realm of horror, the Goblin Shark possesses an impressive array of unsettling features. It amalgamates elements that evoke the inherent fear of the ocean: formidable sharks, grotesque monstrosities, and razor-sharp teeth that lunge forth from the darkness, ready to strike.

Lamprey

While predators can be intimidating, nothing elicits spine-tingling fear quite like a parasite. Even the mere mention of the word can induce a shiver. Lampreys, in particular, is the epitome of this dread. They possess ancient resilience and remarkable adaptability, thriving in many environments, whether saltwater or freshwater, lakes or rivers, and from shallow waters to great depths. Astonishingly, they can even scale waterfalls as they journey inland to reproduce, leaving no sanctuary untouched.

Lampreys prey upon fish, drawing sustenance from them in a vampiric manner, inflicting round, festering wounds that defy healing. In the past, there have been accounts of lampreys targeting swimmers, adding to their terrifying reputation. However, the true horror lies in how they carry out their feeding.

Lampreys employ a distinctive method of sustenance. They firmly attach themselves to their host using a suction mouth and a circle of sharp teeth. Once affixed, they penetrate the host with a barbed tongue and proceed to drain its life force. Imagine the grotesque, dual-mouthed creature from the movie "Alien," you'll gain a relatively accurate depiction of their feeding process.

To compound the horror, they also secrete anticoagulants, substances that thin the host's blood. Consequently, the host stands little chance of survival, and even after the lampreys have moved on, the afflicted fish struggle to recover. It is impossible to overemphasize the nightmarish nature of these creatures.

Frilled Shark

The Frilled Shark, scientifically known as Chlamydoselachus anguineus and commonly referred to as the Lizard Shark, alongside its close relative, the southern African Frilled Shark (Chlamydoselachus africana), represent the only two living species within the Chlamydoselachidae family. They are primarily dark brown, with an average size of about 6.6 feet in length.

These two Frilled Shark species inhabit various Atlantic and Pacific Ocean regions, typically dwelling above the outer continental shelf and on the upper continental slope. 

They prefer the vicinity of the ocean floor, especially in biologically productive segments of the ecosystem. Frilled Sharks are very successful hunters. Their prey has no chance because these predators throw themselves at the victim and swallow it whole, regardless of size.

If you look at them from the outside, they will remind you of an eel because their way of moving is reminiscent of a snake's. Their favorite food is squid, and they also feed on other fish, even smaller sharks.

The moniker "Frilled Shark" originates from the serrated appearance of the six pairs of gill slits located on the shark's throat.

Astroscopus Guttatus

The Astroscopus Guttatus, scientifically known as the Northern Stargazer, inhabits the Atlantic coast of the United States. These fish can grow up to 22 inches and are found at depths of up to 120 feet. They have a characteristic appearance with a flat forehead and a significant concentration of body mass in the mouth area.

It has a black and brown body decorated with uniform white spots covering the head and back. In addition, it has three dark horizontal stripes on its white tail. On the upper part of the head, the observer has electrical organs near the eyes that can produce and emit electric shocks.

Northern Stargazers predominantly inhabit the eastern coast of the United States. They are known for their unique feeding behavior, as they bury themselves in the sand and patiently await the passage of prey, typically smaller fish.

Their eyes are on the top of their heads, protruding through the sand, giving rise to their intriguing name, "Stargazer." The scientific name of the stargazer, Astroscopus Guttatus, holds a meaningful origin, with "Astroscopus" denoting "one who aims at the stars" and "Guttatus" translating to "speckled," a reference to the white spots adorning their backs.

Payara

The Payara is native to the Amazon Basin in tropical South America. It is also known as the "Vampire fish" and has a unique tooth structure. Their enormous six-inch fangs protruding from their underbiting jaws give them a rather unconventional appearance. They use these sharp fangs to impale their primary prey, mainly smaller baitfish. Payaras are usually 1.5 to 3 feet long and weigh between 5 and 20 pounds.

They are considered top predators. These fish are known for their wild nature and are recognized as the most combative species in the Amazon Basin and South America.

Fly fishing anglers have faced significant challenges for many years because there are only a few safe locations to target Payaras. However, recent developments in select lodges in South America and Brazil have changed the game, allowing adventurous anglers to pursue these formidable predators.

Blobfish

The smooth-head Blobfish, scientifically known as Psychrolutes Marcidus but often referred to as simply the Blobfish, belongs to the Psychrolutidae family and is primarily found in the deep-sea regions off mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Blobfish are typically less than 12 inches in length and inhabit depths ranging from 2,000 to 3,900 feet. At these depths, the water pressure is significantly higher (approximately 100 times higher) than at sea level. In such conditions, conventional gas bladders are ineffective for maintaining buoyancy. Instead, the Blobfish possesses predominantly gelatinous files with a slightly lower density than water. This unique adaptation enables the fish to float above the ocean floor without active swimming. 

It is interesting to mention that this fish was only discovered in 2003 by Kerrin Parkinson (an ecologist). She found it during a regular ocean expedition near New Zealand.

Archosargus Probatocephalus

Archosargus Probatocephalus is a saltwater fish commonly known as the Sheepshead. Its average size is 10 to 20 inches. Its favorite food is oysters, clams, and crabs. It has short and strong teeth (the front ones are similar to human teeth).

It's worth mentioning that Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn derives its name from this particular fish.

It is found in coastal waters in the western Atlantic and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Although Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, New York, was named after this fish, it is now relatively uncommon to find them as far north as New York. However, there have been recent reports of small sheepshead returning to the area, with a few caught in Jamaica Bay.

Final Thoughts

Even scarier than the scary fish are their numbers! As we continue to uncover new species, the further we delve, the more peculiar they become. It's impossible to predict what mysterious creatures may still inhabit the depths. One thing is sure – numerous monstrous beings are awaiting our discovery.

Share your most spine-chilling fishing experience with us. What terrifying fish do you believe have eluded our awareness? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section!