The ocean is a mysterious place. Not all sea creatures are mythical. Some are quite real. Each time we drop a bait in the water, there is that slight hesitation and mystery of what weird creature may be brought to the surface. This brief list includes some of the weirder saltwater fish that I have personally caught to date but certainly not the weirdest that inhabit the depths of the ocean.
What: (Bluespotted) Cornetfish
Where: South Pacific
Also known as a flutemouth, Cornetfish look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. Their long thin body that can exceed 6’ in length, and their flutelike mouth allows them to reach small fish, crustaceans and invertebrates seeking shelter in tight coral crevices.
What: Black Snoek
Where: Indian Ocean
As part of the snake mackerel family, these fish favor depths of more than 1000’ during the daylight hours; they rise in the water column and become more active after dark. Consume these fish in moderation as the oily nature of their meat is known to cause urgent gastrointestinal issues.
What: Puffer/(Spot-Fin) Porcupine Fish
Where: Indian Ocean
When distressed, puffers and porcupine fish have the unusual ability to expand their stomachs to several times their normal body size. For some species, spikey spines and poisonous toxins are an added deterrent for predators, and they have a bite that you will want to avoid.
What: Remora
Where: South Pacific
With the aid of their modified dorsal fin – comprised of multiple suction disks, remoras make a living out of hitching a ride on much larger sharks, rays and whales. In a symbiotic relationship, remoras remove parasites from their hosts and consume small scraps of prey not eaten by their hosts.
What: Blue Triggerfish
Where: South Pacific
With a unique oval shaped body, huge head and relatively small caudal fin, triggerfish are unique in that they use undulations of their rear-positioned dorsal and anal fins as their primary source of propulsion. Keep your fingers away from those crazy over-sized bucked-teeth that they use to feast on mollusks, crustaceans and urchins.
Read Next: Weirdest Fish Caught on Hook and Line
What: Monkfish
Where: Mid-Atlantic Ocean
One-part blob, one-part doormat and one-part oversized mouth full of teeth – remarkably this bottom-dwelling fish is as tasty as it is ugly. With superior camouflage and adapted pectoral and ventral fins that act as feet, Monkfish slowly crawl across the ocean’s bottom until they get into striking range of unsuspecting prey. A small filament on the top of the head of some species of monkfish serves as an attractant of prey, while the monkfish rests motionless in wait.
