It’s interesting that 70 percent of our planet is covered by water, but we’ve only explored about five percent of the ocean. In fact, they say we know more about the moon than we do about the sea floor! It stands to reason, then, that we know very little about the creatures that inhabit the deep. What we do know about deep sea fish can be incredibly fascinating, especially if you’re about to embark on a deep sea fishing trip. Here are a couple of things to know about the creatures lurking in the deep before you book your fishing charter reservation.
Batfish
Though its name may bring up images of a superhero, the batfish is anything but! There are many species of batfish that live in all different depths of the ocean, but the deep sea batfish is perhaps the most interesting of them all. It has a giant horn protruding from its head with a strange lure dangling from the front of it. Scientists aren’t exactly sure what the lure is used for, which only helps add to the creature’s mystery. The strangest part of the fish, though, is that it doesn’t really swim—it prefers walking across the sea floor on fins that act like legs!
Japanese spider crab
Sure, they can be a little difficult to crack open sometimes, but who doesn’t love a juicy crab leg? If you’re a big fan of crab legs, you’d probably love chomping down on some Japanese spider crab! These monsters of the deep can weigh up to 40 pounds and measure up to 14 inches from claw to claw. Additionally, they can live to be 100 years old! Sadly, like other species of the deep, overfishing has taken a major toll on these crabs, and preservation efforts are underway to grow the population.
Opah
It may look like any other fish to you, but the opah is unlike any other deep sea fish in the world. Also known as the moonfish, this crimson-colored fish is the first known warm-blooded fish in the ocean. The temperature gets pretty chilly in the deep, but not for the opah. Its body temperature is consistently five degrees warmer than that of the water surrounding it!
Viperfish
If you’re prone to having bad dreams, pray you never encounter a viperfish! Viperfish have huge teeth attached to a jaw that can open up to 90 degrees. Talk about nightmare fuel! Luckily, these bioluminescent fish live in the deep, deep ocean, so the chances that you’ll ever see one are slim to none.
Blobfish
You’ll only have nightmares about the blobfish if you’re afraid of really ugly fish. This fish was recently voted the world’s ugliest animal due to its disgusting (yet almost comical) blob-like body. Its gelatinous body type serves a purpose, though. The pressure at the bottom of the ocean is unprecedented, and its body type helps it survive. Unfortunately, blobfish tend to get caught in deep sea fishing expeditions, and scientists are starting to worry that they could become an endangered species in the future.
Keep these tidbits in the back of your mind while you’re out on the ocean reeling in some fish. Be sure to contact Sea Wife Charters today to book your next fishing charter reservation—time spots are filling up fast for the summer fishing season!