Unusual fish bycatch

[gstours]

We were fishing for halibut's lately and caught an 80 pounder,  when we brought it aboard it puked 🤢 out this very scary looking party digested small fish.   Here's a look 👀 at it.   
    I think it's called a viperfish,  and generally only found in very deep unfishable water.   Butt?

[gstours]

Another, pik

[Swami805]

That is a crazy looking fish. I think that patch under the eye lights up like a flash light. Thinking halibut aren't fussy eaters

[Marcq]

Uglyyyy!!

Marc..

[conchydong]

As they say, there are no fences in the ocean. Deep water fish sometimes move shallower and shallower fish move deep all for food and/or spawning. Sometimes they meet up and one species will win.

[Gfish]

Cool!
Agree. The Butt probably went deep or the probable viperfish came shallow, or both. Huge eyes, giant toothy mouth, flashlight organs, probably no gas bladder, the only thing he's missin is onea those pole/lure dealies on his forehead. A serious deep-water fish.

[Tightlines667]

Interesting.  

These are one of the more common of the widely distributed neobathic species found in mid to higher latirudes.  They have large gills and may occasionally migrate further towards the surface than many of their deepwater relatives (They have been found in Mahi mahi stomach contents).  I think this guy should have an elongated first dorsal ray that they use like a lure to attrack prey.  They may only eat once every 12days or so.  

John

[David Hall]

Crazy looking fish for certain. 

[Maxed Out]

I think this guy should have an elongated first dorsal ray that they use like a lure to attrack prey.  

The little lure hanging off elongated dorsal fin obviously attracted the wrong fish and instead of catching his own snack, he became a snack   

[gstours]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.  It was not in good condition when we discovered it .  Seems like it has a lantern that hangs over head and attract s prey.  Not sure how large they get butt this one was about 6inch.   Very specialized type of little bugger.🤦‍♀️🐟

[TongassFisher]

Wow!


Thanks for sharing, you are in Gustavus right? So was that in Icy Strait? 

Thanks for sharing I've never seen one before.


Trevor

[1badf350]

That's interesting. Wonder if you should report that to fish and game dept

[54bullseye]

They would probably want to seize the 80 lb Halibuttttttt  for scientific research !!  John Taylor

[gstours]

Info Update:    After talking to a marine biologist about the fish in question and reviewing some photos is was decided that it was in the Stomiidae family of "Barbeled dradonfishes.     Thei most distinguishing feature is their mouth with long jaws and no mouth floor.  They can thrust their jaw far forward to impale prey on their fangs.   They also have a very tiny chin barbel that was decomposed and not in picture.
   The postorbital  (scull bone) behind the eye is charactisticlly elongated and triangular as you can see in the close up image of the head.  They also have this amazing dorsal fin (decomposed) ray that has a photophore on the end of it for attracting smaller fish to their business end.
   Thanks for the interest in this little fish.  All comments are welcome.   Anyway i,m gone fishing.

[Gfish]

Thanks for alla info. A fish that specialized for no light/high pressure/ little prey avalibility conditions is fascinating.
Didn't notice the "post orbital elongation" thing though. Wait, dorsal to ventral elongation?