October 21, 2013 — Scientists have no answers as to why two of the largest bony fish known to man washed ashore in Southern California in the span of a few days.
Days after a rare oarfish measuring 18 feet was discovered off Catalina Island, a second oarfish measuring 14 feet washed ashore in Oceanside Harbor .
A crowd of 50 to 75 beachgoers gathered around the carcass of the silver-bodied oarfish before The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration arrived to retrieve the fish. Police said the 14-foot-long fish was cut into pieces and hauled away in coolers.
Officers said they had never witnessed anything like it, but they recognized the mysterious, deep-water fish after it made national headlines earlier this week.
Read the full story and watch the video from NBC San Diego