If you’ve ever wanted to see a truly unique ocean creature up close, now’s your chance—well, sort of. A massive 7-foot-long ocean sunfish, also known as a Mola mola, recently washed ashore at Hug Point State Park in Arch Cape, Oregon, causing quite the buzz among locals and marine enthusiasts. Even though this sunfish has been dead for a while, it’s still drawing people out to the beach, eager to get a glimpse of this rare giant.
The team at Seaside Aquarium first shared the news, posting photos of the decaying fish on their Facebook page, and naturally, it grabbed a lot of attention.
The aquarium staff encouraged those interested to head out to Hug Point during low tide if they wanted to catch sight of the enormous creature, but they warned that the fish was, well, not exactly fresh anymore. Still, it’s an intriguing sight for those fascinated by the ocean’s more bizarre inhabitants.
So, what exactly is a Mola mola? Often described as one of the ocean’s oddest creatures, the ocean sunfish can grow to jaw-dropping sizes, sometimes reaching up to 10 feet in length and weighing as much as 5,000 pounds.
This particular specimen was just under 7 feet long, which is fairly average for its species, but it’s no less impressive when you see it stretched out on the beach. They’re known for their strange shape, appearing almost like a giant head with fins, and their diet largely consists of jellyfish—something they seem to be getting plenty of around the Oregon coast this time of year.
This isn’t the first time sunfish have made headlines along the Oregon shoreline. In fact, according to Seaside Aquarium, this is the third sunfish that’s washed ashore in Clatsop County since June. One of the more notable events involved a different species of sunfish called a Mola tecta, or hoodwinker sunfish. This mysterious fish was only identified as a species about 10 years ago, making its appearance in Oregon a pretty big deal for marine biologists. The hoodwinker that was spotted in June measured 7.3 feet long and was one of the largest ever seen.
While seeing a massive sunfish washed up on the beach might seem out of the ordinary, it’s actually not uncommon. These fish do reside off the Oregon coast, and with the increased attention surrounding the Mola tecta sighting earlier this year, more people are now reporting sunfish strandings to local experts. The aquarium is actively documenting these events to gather more information on these fascinating creatures.
For those brave enough to head out and take a look, you might want to bring along some nose plugs. As one local Facebook user pointed out, the decaying sunfish has developed quite the odor.
Another visitor remarked that it was already pretty deteriorated when they saw it last week. Despite its current condition, it’s not every day you get to witness such a massive ocean creature up close, even in its unfortunate state.
If you’re in the area and want to experience a piece of the ocean’s more curious side, head to Hug Point, but be sure to check the tides before you go—and maybe prepare for a little bit of a smell!
