Can you ID this fish?

[Bill Monroe]

Found in the sand not long ago on the central Oregon coast.

[SilverFly]

Just a guess, but it might be a North Pacific Daggertooth (Anotopterus nikparini). Interesting critter whatever it is!

[wak'm&stak'm]

Years ago we found one on the beach, it was complete and not just a piece of one.
It was about 5 or 6 ft long, by the looks of your fishes jaw and teeth I think it is the same fish. We took it to the Marine science center and they told us it was (if I remeber correctly) a Pacific lance fish, it was some deep water thing.
I know there is a sand lance fish that is smaller.... pause.... heck I don't know and niether does google.

Next guess please???

[crazyinoregon]

some sort of eel maybe? or is that one of those lawyer fish

[CATCH AND EAT]

To me it looks like and X surrounded by a box. Can't see your photo for some reason.

[Steelie Steve]

Originally Posted by SilverFly

Just a guess, but it might be a North Pacific Daggertooth (Anotopterus nikparini). Interesting critter whatever it is!

Saw one on the beach in Long Beach 2 weeks ago. The whole fish and still alive. Wierdest thing I've seen. This one was all of 4' to 5' long. Very skinny body with fins (not eel like). Did a bunch of google searching and came to the same conclusion. Pacific Daggertooth. The picture doesn't do those teeth justice...

[fish assassin]

Could it possibly be?? Could it be the head off the mythical Saber-Toothed Salmon?

~assAssin~

[Threemuch]

What is the scale? ribbonfish? Fangtooth? Viperfish? Some kind of abyssal dweller. Look at the size of the eyes in comparison to the rest of the head.

Lots of those deep, deep dwellers have impressive teeth.

[Pagorits]

Pacific Lancefish. There is one mounted in a clubhouse at a campground I frequent in Copalis.

[Big Billy]

it sure has a set of chompers whatever it is!

[Trick]

This is a pic of a Pacific Daggertooth



Jaws look a little skinnier on this one?

[lor]

North Pacific Chupacabra,
sorry, I couldn't resist.

[Greg516]

kinda looks like barracuda or Kingfish

[SilverFly]

Originally Posted by Pagorits

Pacific Lancefish. There is one mounted in a clubhouse at a campground I frequent in Copalis.

I've been out fish-geeked!!! Good call, I stand corrected (although it's spelled "Lancetfish" ). The jaws of a daggertooth are much narrower, and the eye placement too far back. There are two species, the longnose Alepisaurus ferox, and shortnose Alepisaurus brevirostris. Not sure which one we've got here, but my vote is for the shortnose:

Alepisaurus ferox



Alepisaurus brevirostris



And an actual photo of a shortnose head (watch those fingers!).

[huntinwithlabs]

Thank god it isnt a sabertoothed Salmon. If it was, they would be looking to add a few more marine sanctuaries to protect them.

[Tip-Sea]

First question's in my mind...... How do I catch it and what does it taste like?

[sdsurfer]

Very cool beach find, Bill, and a great ID job by Pagorits. Here's a video of a Lancetfish speared in Carmel, CA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0uR_I2hUWo

According to the source of all knowledge, Wikipedia, they have a watery/gelatinous flesh and are not good to eat.

[SilverFly]

According to the source of all knowledge, Wikipedia, they have a watery/gelatinous flesh and are not good to eat.

Sounds like lutefisk.

[Medics-R-US]

Dare anyone to stick there finger in that lil ole fishes mouth.

[StickFish]

Originally Posted by Tip-Sea

First question's in my mind...... How do I catch it and what does it taste like?

Just wiggle you toe over the side in 63.2 degree water on a full moon.

Tastes like chicken

[fishboys]

"Just wiggle you toe over the side in 63.2 degree water on a full moon.

Tastes like chicken "

Your toe or the fish?

[ICHTHYDEMON]

I just watched a segment on King 5 news about this kind of fish. There have been 2 wash up on the beach at Ocean Shores in the last 2 weeks.

The biologist called it a Longnose Lancetfish.

The same guy found both of them.

[Joe C]

I wanna catch one. almost as scary as the amazon payara fish.