Japanese Fisherman Reels In Monster Wolffish

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Photo Credit: Hiroshi Hirasaka via Twitter

Japanese fisherman Hiroshi Hirasaka has an unusual hobby. He likes to catch and eat exotic and bizarre-looking creatures.The avid hunter has even outlined his conquests in a book called "Exotic Fish Species: I Caught, Judged and Tried Eating." Hence, you can only imagine his delight when he reeled in yet another scary looking specimen off the coast of Japan's Hokkaido Island, on August 30th.

Though the alien-looking fish whose massive mouth covers almost half its body appears to be something out of a science-fiction movie, it is just a specimen of the wolffish that dwell on the floors of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The only difference? Hirasaka's 2-meter long catch is almost twice the size of typical members of the deep sea dwellers that measure about 1.2 meters in length.

The fish's unusually large size has led some to speculate that it may be a mutant caused by the meltdown of Japan's Fukushima Nuclear Plant in 2011. Triggered by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake, it was one of the world's biggest nuclear disasters that spewed massive amounts of radiation into the ocean. Since then, fish in the area have been found to have as much as 2,500 times the legal, safe radiation limit.

Photo Credit: Hiroshi Hirasaka via Twitter

However, Timothy Mousseau one of the world's leading researchers on the effects of radiation on wildlife strongly disagrees. He says it is "extremely unlikely" that the fish's size has any connection with the ocean contamination around Japan. According to the expert, the effects of mutation usually reduces growth rates and makes things smaller. In marine animals that is detrimental because it decreases their capability to catch food, which in turn lowers their lifespan.

The expert does, however, admit that a few that mutations could result in the extra-large size. The only way to tell for sure whether this latest headline-making wolffish is just a freak of nature or a mutant is if additional extra-large specimens are found.

As for what Hirasaka thinks about the controversy his giant catch has created? He doesn't care. He is just thrilled at the opportunity to be able to add "this cool guy" to the long list of exotic creatures he has caught and tasted.

Resources: dailystar.co,uk, dailymail.co.uk,Ibtimes.co.uk

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1653 Comments
  • iceyqueen
    iceyqueenover 1 year
    That is so enormous
    • restarted
      restartedover 1 year
      so scaryyyyyyy
      • thecooldude5
        thecooldude5almost 2 years
        wow so cool I wish I could catch fish that big
        • songunicorn17
          songunicorn17almost 3 years
          Ew... That fish... Ew... But... Woah.. I have mixed feelings about this!
          • songunicorn17
            songunicorn17almost 3 years
            His face is the face of... Help me! And HOLY MOLY I CAUGHT A FISH and a sarcastic smile lol
            • unknown_user14
              unknown_user14almost 3 years
              And as a tenth (10th) fact, there are some of the UGLIEST FISH ALIVE!!!
              • unknown_user14
                unknown_user14almost 3 years
                Here are 9 facts/info about a Monster Wolffish: 1. This fish lives in freezing waters. 2. It's fang-like teeth give a wolf appearance. 3. It doesn't have any scales on it's body. 4. It's blue-ish skin and dark stripes help hide from predators on the rocky seafloor. 5. Species belongs to Anarhichas lupus. 6. Length is up to 5 ft: weight up to 52 lbs (pounds). 7. Waters up to 1,700 feet deep in the northern Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. 8. Prey on crabs, mollusks, urchins and other bottom (of the oceans)-dwellers. 9. Lifespan is about 20 years.
                • unknown_user14
                  unknown_user14almost 3 years
                  OH MY GOSH!!! The man looks like he want to put it down!
                  • catgirl828
                    catgirl828over 3 years
                    that looks nasty
                    • x_goddess_x
                      x_goddess_xover 3 years
                      What??? IS IT REAL? Omg, Where is the eyes? Blech, I really don't like that picture!