It's not every day that you see a King-of-the-salmon, even for NOAA Fisheries scientists.
A juvenile was recently spotted by a diver in the shallow waters of Monterey Bay, CA (not pictured here).
Also known as ribbonfish, this deep-sea species is a stunning sight, as they normally dwell at depths of up to 3,000 feet. Their unusual name comes from the Makah Tribe, whose ancestral lands occupy the very northwest tip of what is now Washington State. The Makah say the King-of-the-salmon lead salmon back to their spawning grounds every year. This legend probably originates from the occasional King-of-the-salmon that wash up on beaches in the Pacific Northwest, where beachcombers are often amazed by their size (up to 6 feet long!) and unusual silver and red coloration.
NOAA Fisheries biologist Dr. Laurie Weitkamp fulfilled her bucket list by seeing one in 2021 during an expedition in the Pacific Ocean, reminding us that the twilight zone of the deep sea sometimes comes to light (see link in bio).
Photo credit: Awkward Salmonid, own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107199799
