Comments on: World’s Largest Fish that is not a whale* on film!

By: Michael Cargal

Michael Cargal — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 09:13:39 +0000

In 1968 or ’69, I was second license on am 85-foot sportfishing boat out of San Diego. We were in Cabo San Lucas bay for the night. This was long before the inner harbor was dredged, and the main outside anchorage was full, so we were anchored out near the drop-off, where it goes from 10 fathoms to 1000 nearly vertically (20 meters to 500 meters) and then straight back up again.

We put 1000-watt lights over the side to attract mackerel, which the night watch would catch for bait the next day. In the middle of the night, the watch woke the crew to show us a creature swimming around under the light. It was an oarfish I swear as long as the boat. It swam around a few minutes and then glided back down.

By: Jared

Jared — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:54:32 +0000

MadScientist, they are seen on the surface occasionally (when they are dead or dying).

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:57:23 +0000

that is not eaten raw as a delicacy …. yet.

By: MadScientist

MadScientist — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:41:51 +0000

Looking at the depth, you can probably discard this animal as being the inspiration for a “sea serpent”. For a human to see it, it would have to come to shallow water and drop dead and float to a beach or something. Besides, there are marine snakes (a genuine sea serpent) and there are eels (a fish) – I’m sure they’re more than enough inspiration for giant sea serpents.

By: mark

mark — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:39:02 +0000

How about “Biggest fish that is not eaten raw as a delicacy.”

By: Patsy Monteleone

Patsy Monteleone — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:18:31 +0000

How about “most massive bony fish”? Wouldn’t that be the ocean sunfish?

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:50:43 +0000

Well, the headline was meant to confuse and startle the reader with inaccurate information. Like, parody. Or, maybe to get Blastulistas mad at me.

But in truth, I think this fish is said to be “one of the largest boney fish” which reflects some uncertainty.

Yes, that herring is the largest fish because the largest ones are that herring, but that may be a red herring!

Which is bigger … brown bears or polar bears? (Grizzleys are brown bears). The answer is: The largest specemin is a polar bear, way bigger than any brown bear. But, the average Kodiak (regional/subspcies of brown) bear is bigger than the average polar bear.

I’m thinking with the fish people they say “one of the largest bony fish” rather than “second largest” because it is more accuate.

Whale sharks are not bony fish.

By: Azkyroth

Azkyroth — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:00:39 +0000

Length listed for the King of Herrings oarfish species is 11 or 12 meters for the longest specimen depending on the resource consulted; greatest confirmed length for a whale shark is 12.65 meters.

By: Jared

Jared — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:35:51 +0000

Spiv, the flashlight fish and lanternfish, of course!

By: Spiv

Spiv — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:29:47 +0000

Yeah, I think this is specifically “longest.” Most massive is still Whale Shark. Which reference means “biggest” I guess is your call. Perhaps we could get a third category with “most luminous” or something.

So, uh, what’s the most luminous fish in the sea?