On October 13, a strange thing washed up at Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach. The California park identified it on Facebook as a Pacific footballfish. This fish usually lives in the dark depths and is rarely seen by humans because of its harsh environment.
The park’s statement showed surprise: “Guess who showed up just in time for Friday the 13th? It’s angler fish #2 at Crystal Cove State Park!” It went on, “In May 2021, the same kind of angler fish was found onshore, causing a stir. Two years later, on October 13, another one washed up. What’s going on?” They asked in a spooky way, making people think about how this could happen.
The creepy-looking creature has been taken by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife “for further study,” the statement said.
There are over 200 species of anglerfish in the world’s oceans, the statement said. It also noted, “Only females have a long stalk on their head with a glowing tip to attract prey in 3,000-foot-deep black water!”