The oarfish, often called the “doomsday fish,” is a rare sight for humans.

That’s because, the ribbon-like species is a deep-sea dweller, occupying one of the least explored regions of the ocean, the mesopelagic zone, around 1,000 meters deep.

But recently, in Cabo San Lucas in Baja, Mexico, not one, but two, oarfish washed ashore as a group of tourists were strolling the beach. Rare, indeed. See below.

The video description reads:

“A beach day in Cabo took an unexpected turn when two sisters spotted something strange flashing in the distance. At first they thought it couldn’t be real.

“As they got closer, they realized the creatures struggling in the shallow water were oarfish, a rare deep-sea species that almost never appears near the surface. One of the sisters quickly jumped in to help, working with people on the beach to push the fish back toward deeper water.

“But the moment got even stranger. Just as they finished helping the first one, they spotted another oarfish near the shore. Seeing even one is extremely rare. Seeing two in the same place is almost unheard of.

“Afterward, they learned there have only been a handful of sightings along that coastline over the past few hundred years. While some people call them ‘doomsday fish,’ scientists say there’s no evidence they’re linked to earthquakes or tsunamis.”

Related: 10ft “Doomsday Fish” Washes Ashore, Cursing San Diego Surf Town

The oarfish has long been a sign of natural disasters, sparking fears in those who spot them washing ashore. For example, according to Ocean Conservancy:

“The legend is that if you see an oarfish, it is a warning sign from higher powers that disasters such as earthquakes are soon to occur…before Japan’s 2011 earthquake (one of the most catastrophic in history) a total of 20 oarfish washed ashore.”

Yet, no earthquake or tsunami followed this sighting in Cabo; just a good story.

Related: The Biggest Tsunami Ever Recorded: Inside the 1,720-Foot Wave (Video)

This story was originally published by Surfer on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Surfer as a Preferred Source by clicking here.