On February 9, 2025, something extraordinary slithered into view off the coast of Baja California Sur. A shimmering, serpentine oarfish—nicknamed the “doomsday fish”—surfaced near the shore, captured on camera by Robert Hayes from Idaho. For a creature that usually lurks in the dark depths of the ocean, its appearance was a rare treat. But it didn’t take long for whispers of ancient legends to follow: could this be a sign of impending disaster?
The Legend of the Doomsday Fish
Oarfish have a reputation that precedes them. In Japanese folklore, they’re known as ryugu no tsukai, or “messengers from the sea god’s palace,” said to herald earthquakes, tsunamis, or other natural upheavals. The myth isn’t baseless—sightings have occasionally lined up with real events, like the dozens spotted before Japan’s devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake. So when this long, eerie fish washed up in Baja, it’s no wonder folks started wondering: is Earth in for another shake-up?
The fish itself is a marvel. Stretching up to 26 feet or more, with a ribbon-like body and a crown of red spines, it’s the stuff of seafaring tales. They’re deep-sea dwellers, typically cruising between 650 and 3,280 feet below the surface. Seeing one up close is like spotting a unicorn—except this unicorn might just signal the end of days, if you buy the hype.
What Happened in Baja
Robert Hayes was paddleboarding when he encountered the oarfish, describing it as wounded yet mesmerizing. It lingered near the shore, refusing to swim back out despite attempts to nudge it seaward. Photos and videos spread fast, and with them, the doomsday chatter reignited. Was this a warning? A fluke? Or just a fish having a really bad day?
Science vs. Superstition
Here’s where things get interesting. While the timing of some oarfish sightings and disasters raises eyebrows, science hasn’t found a solid connection. A 2019 study in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America dug into the data and came up empty—no consistent pattern linking these fish to tectonic trouble. More likely, experts say, oarfish surface when they’re sick, disoriented, or caught in shifting ocean currents. Think temperature changes, El Niño effects, or even subtle underwater tremors too small for us to notice but enough to throw a deep-sea fish off course.
The Baja oarfish fits this mold. Its injuries and odd behavior suggest it wasn’t exactly thriving. Rather than a harbinger of doom, it might’ve been a victim of nature’s quirks—lost, hurt, and accidentally famous.
Why We Love the Myth
Even without proof, the “doomsday fish” story sticks. There’s something primal about it—a mysterious creature from the abyss warning us of forces beyond our control. It’s a reminder of how little we know about the ocean, which covers 70% of our planet yet remains largely unexplored. Pair that with a few eerie coincidences, and you’ve got a legend that’s tough to shake.
My Take
I’ll admit, the idea of an oarfish as a prophetic messenger is captivating. Who doesn’t love a good mystery? But I’m inclined to see this as a natural spectacle, not a supernatural one. The ocean’s a wild place, full of oddities like the oarfish that don’t need an apocalypse to fascinate us. Maybe it’s less about predicting disaster and more about reminding us to respect the unknown.
What do you think? Are you Team Myth, convinced there’s something to the old tales? Or Team Misadventure, chalking it up to a fish out of its depth? Drop your thoughts below—I’d love to hear where you land on this one.