Two Australian men could have landed their biggest catch when they caught one of the world’s rarest fish during a charter trip in the Top End.
An online post about the pair’s rare catch showed the two men holding up a giant oarfish after reeling it in. The fish is shaped like a horse, with eyes the size of a dinner plate and a long, slender body.
Skipper Curtis Peterson of Tiwi Islands Adventures led the charter group on a moonlight session off Melville Island last week.
The oarfish swims vertically at depths of up to 1000 meters and is also known as the ‘Doomsday Fish’. According to legend, higher powers send a warning signal to those who see the fish.
The ancient creature is a rare find in the Top End, according to an expert.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of anyone catching a fish like this here,” NT News said fishing columnist Alex Julius.
‘It’s also very rare to catch such a fish. Most of them are washed ashore and are already dead.’
But he pointed out that oarfish are not exactly a good addition to the menu.
Curtis Peterson from Tiwi Islands Adventures and a young fisherman with their rare catch.
“Apparently they’re not that nice to eat either, they taste a bit like gelatin,” he said.
A photo of the catch on Fishing Australia TV’s Facebook page has received 1,300 comments and been shared 470 times since Friday evening.
Some wondered if it was AI-generated, but others saw the lighthearted side of it.
“It’s Puff, the magical sea dragon that lives under the sea, right?” said one commenter.
Another added: ‘Of course that’s a seahorse that refused to go extinct when the dinosaurs went extinct.’
There was something Australian-funny about this comment.
‘I’d call it the Bogan Barracuda. Looks like the fish version of the bloke in the pub who always has a wild story and an even wilder mullet,’ it said.