A rare King-of-the-Salmon 4 1/2 feet long was found washed up at Salt Creek Recreation Area Sunday. These fish normally live at a depth of 3,000 feet and are rarely seen alive.

A rare King-of-the-Salmon 4 1/2 feet long was found washed up at Salt Creek Recreation Area Sunday. These fish normally live at a depth of 3,000 feet and are rarely seen alive.

OUTDOORS: An unusual deepwater brute washes up at Salt Creek

JOYCE — It’s big, weird and looks a little bit like something out of a nightmare.

And it’s almost never shown up before on the North Olympic Peninsula, according to a Gig Harbor-based environmental group.

An incredible find washed up on shore at Salt Creek Recreation Area this weekend.

A group called Harbor WildWatch was holding a virtual beach walk Sunday when a paddleboarder reported finding a “massive, dead creature” submerged in Salt Creek.

The “creature” turned out to be a “King-of-the-Salmon” (Trachipterus altivelis). It was 4.4 feet long. According to Harbor Wildwatch, only four or five of this species have been documented washing ashore in British Columbia and Washington. The most recent was in 2018.

A Google search about the species shows an article about a King-of-the-Salmon washing up on shore in Seaside, Ore., in 2006.

A rare King-of-the-Salmon 4 1/2 feet long was found washed up at Salt Creek Recreation Area Sunday. These fish normally live at a depth of 3,000 feet and are rarely seen alive.

A rare King-of-the-Salmon 4 1/2 feet long was found washed up at Salt Creek Recreation Area Sunday. These fish normally live at a depth of 3,000 feet and are rarely seen alive.

A King-of-the-Salmon is not actually a salmon. It’s in the ribbonfish family and lives in depths down to 3,000 feet along the Pacific coastline from Alaska to Chile. Ribbonfish are rarely seen alive because they tend to live in such deep water.

Carly Vester, communications specialist for Harbor WildWatch, described a scene that sounded like it came from an episode of “Seinfeld.”

“We were finishing an amazing day on the beach when a paddleboarder in the creek called out to us, ‘Are you biologists?’,” Vester said. “[He] described a massive dead creature with an alarmingly large eye submerged up the creek. He let our team use his paddleboard to take a look and helped us gently bring the animal on shore to take a closer look.”

James Losee, region program manager with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, confirmed this is a very rare find.

“I’ve seen one or two, ever,” he said. “And I’m a fish geek.”

He said it’s not necessarily a rare fish, but that they live in the deep ocean, so people almost never see them. Sometimes fishermen trolling for salmon will catch them in deep waters.

The fish’s common name – King-of-the-Salmon – comes from the legends of the Makah. Their legends hold that these fish annually lead salmon back to their spawning grounds. The catch or consumption of King-of-the-Salmon was forbidden by the tribe, as it was feared the death would stop the salmon run.

The specimen measured about 53 inches (4.42 feet) in length and has eyes as big around as a coffee cup. While it was fully intact, it had general deterioration of the dorsal fin. The coloration had also faded significantly.

“Based on the condition, I would estimate that it washed up no more than three days ago,” said Rachel Easton, education director for Harbor Wildwatch. “Since there isn’t any noticeable injury, we think it’s likely that this specimen somehow was caught in the surf and washed ashore.”

King-of-the-Salmon are known to grow up to 6 feet in length and eat krill, small fish, copepods, octopus and squid. Known predators include the bigeye thresher shark and longnose lancetfish.

“I had never seen anything like this,” said Stena Troyer, science specialist for Harbor WildWatch. “And we have discovered some incredible things on the beach over the years.”

According to Harbor WildWatch, a video will be posted on the discovery of the fish on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HarborWildWatch.

More in Sports

Sequim's Jericho Julmist drives to the basket against Bremerton in Sequim on Monday night. In on the play is Sequim's Zeke Schmadeke. Sequim won 66-61 to earn a share of the Olympic League title. (Emily Mathiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
BOYS PREP BASKETBALL: Big night for Sequim and Port Angeles

Wolves earn share of league title; Riders punch postseason ticket with win

Sequim Wolves
PREP BASKETBALL: Sequim boys earn share of Olympic League title

The Sequim boys basketball team overcame a hot-shooting Bremerton squad… Continue reading

Ethan Melnick, Sequim basketball.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ethan Melnick, Sequim basketball

Sequim has been getting big contributions all year from Solomon Sheppard and… Continue reading

Sequim’s Gracie Chartraw dribbles against North Kitsap on Friday in the Wolves’ final home game of the year. (Emily Mathiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
PREP BASKETBALL RECAP: Sequim boys, PA girls victories set up huge games

Snow and icy roads disrupted the basketball schedules of… Continue reading

The Port Scandalous Roller Derby League begins Feb. 22 at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club.
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: Roller derby season opener set for Feb. 22

The Port Scandalous Roller Derby League will begin with… Continue reading

The Forks boys wrestling team won its fifth straight District 4 championship this weekend. (Forks wrestling)
PREP WRESTLING: Forks boys, East Jefferson girls district champs

The Forks boys and East Jefferson girls both walked away… Continue reading

COLLEGE HOOPS: Pirates win wild one in double OT; women win 16th straight

The Peninsula College men’s basketball team won a double-overtime 101-99… Continue reading