6 of the Weirdest Fish That I’ve Ever Caught

Odd, weird and unique—these fish are just plain bizarre!

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.

(Bluespotted) Cornetfish
(Bluespotted) Cornetfish Steve Ryan

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.

Black Snoek
Black Snoek Courtesy Tristan Terorotua

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.

Puffer/(Spot-Fin) Porcupine Fish
Puffer/(Spot-Fin) Porcupine Fish Steve Ryan

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.

Remora
Remora Steve Ryan

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.

Blue Triggerfish
Blue Triggerfish Steve Ryan

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

Monkfish
Monkfish Courtesy NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center

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.