Video: Earthquake omen or ocean myth? ‘Doomsday fish’ spotted near shore in Cabo San Lucas

A rare and unusual sight drew the attention of beachgoers in Cabo San Lucas. Two long, ribbon-like deep-sea fish, commonly called “doomsday fish,” appeared near the shore. These creatures usually live very deep in the ocean, so seeing them close to people is extremely uncommon and caught the attention of everyone nearby.

Helping the stranded fish

The event was captured in a video shared on Instagram by Monica Pittenger in collaboration with the page We Love Animals. In the clip, one fish had washed onto the beach while the other stayed in shallow water. People gathered around, unsure what to do.

Pittenger recalled the moment: “It was like something out of a fiction movie. I had never seen anything like it before. I just remember thinking, Is this real?”

Some of the onlookers quickly stepped in to help. Pittenger added, “Just watching all these men standing around, and she throws me her phone and her drink and her bag, and she's like, 'Hold this.'” Her sister, who “cannot stand anything in pain,” along with a little girl, helped push the first fish back into the sea. Later, they did the same for the second fish.

Why this sighting is special

According to online sources, oarfish usually live very deep in the ocean, around 1,000 meters below the surface. They rarely come near the shore, making this a rare event.

In the past, these fish have been linked to myths about earthquakes and tsunamis. Scientists, however, say there is no evidence that seeing oarfish predicts natural disasters. As mentioned in a report by Newsweek, no seismic activity followed the sighting in this case.

First close look

Pittenger shared how the group first noticed the fish: “We saw something in the distance. It was flashing, and it was really bright. And when we saw them up close, it was like nothing we've seen before, so we were like, ‘This can't be real.’”

Disclaimer: This report is based on a viral video shared on social media and related online sources. Independent verification of the claims could not be carried out.Thumb image: Instagram