Imagine strolling along a quiet stretch of the Oregon coast, enjoying the briny air and gentle whisper of the surf, when suddenly—bam!—you stumble across a massive, round-bodied fish with shimmering red, orange, and grey scales, tipping the scales at around 45 kilos. That’s exactly what happened in the small seaside town (aptly named Seaside) in the northwest United States on July 14, 2021. And this wasn’t just any visitor—it was a royal arrival from the depths: the opah, or kingfish, a creature so rare in this region that it sent local experts into a flurry of intrigue worthy of a marine detective novel.
The Baffling Beach Discovery
The spotlighted guest, also known as the opah or moonfish (with the scientific name Lampris guttatus), caused quite a stir when discovered on the sands of Seaside. As reported on July 18, 2021 by The Washington Post, the unusual appearance of this brilliant, chunky fish piqued the curiosity of aquarium specialists. Why? Because opah are, by all conventional wisdom, supposed to prefer waters much warmer than those licking Oregon’s shores. Typically, the opah is said to make a home in tropical and warm temperate seas, according to the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer).
A Globetrotter… or Just Lost?
It’s not without precedent elsewhere in the world. In France, for instance, opah have been encountered not just off the mainland, but also near Mayotte, French Polynesia, and Réunion, as noted by the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. Stateside, the opah roams off various parts of the East Coast as well as American territories in the Pacific, including Hawaii, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Yet, as Heidi Dewar, a NOAA marine biologist, highlights, sightings in Oregon remain very rare—the last notable catch in the region dates back to 2009, chronicled by The Oregonian. This rarity only deepens the mystery surrounding this Seaside visitor.
- The opah’s usual haunts are tropical and warm-temperate seas.
- It’s increasingly spotted in western Mediterranean waters.
- Rarely seen in Oregon, with only a handful of previous records.
When found on Seaside’s shore, this particular specimen was said to be in “good condition,” suggesting it died not far from the coast, as explained by Tiffany Boothe, an executive at Seaside Aquarium.
Climate Clues and Unanswered Questions
The million-dollar question: How did this vibrant fish end up in such chilly waters? Specialists aren’t sure. Their best guess involves climate change, potentially nudging the kingfish northward into novel, less-than-tropical realms. But with little hard data, it remains an open case, leaving scientists scratching their heads—and perhaps peering into their fish tanks for answers.
There’s another twist. The opah isn’t just a travel mystery—it’s a scientific one. According to experts, very little research has been conducted into its basic ecology or biology. The NOAA adds that, astonishingly, there is no global estimate for opah populations swimming the planet’s seas. In other words: For all its brilliant armor and royal title, this fish is still one mystery wrapped in scales.
The Science of a Warm-Hearted Fish
Back in 2015, American scientists published a fascinating study in Science focused on the opah, based on specimens caught off the coast of California. Their work revealed a groundbreaking fact: the opah is a warm-blooded fish—the first of its kind described by science. While most fish have body temperatures that mirror their environment, the opah maintains a body temperature about 5°C higher than the surrounding water. Talk about setting fashion trends in the aquatic world!
As for the Seaside opah, its story isn’t quite over. The fish is to be frozen for preservation. When the school year starts, local schoolchildren may have the unique opportunity to dissect it for scientific purposes, as the aquarium shared on Facebook. Who knows? Maybe one of those kids will be the one to unlock the secrets of the opah’s wandering ways.
From lone beach find to scientific enigma, the mystery fish of Seaside is a reminder that our oceans still have plenty of surprises up their sleeves. If you find yourself beachcombing, keep an eye out—you never know what wonders might wash ashore.
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
