'Watch your step': Beachgoers warned of scary-looking fish


Save Story

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — A surfing group is warning beachgoers to watch their step after a scary-looking fish was found lurking in the Virginia Beach sand.

Multiple news outlets report the East Coast Surfing Championships wrote on their Facebook page that one of the company's friends came across a northern stargazer fish while walking. The strange-looking fish has a speckled, flattened body and a large head.

Although the Chesapeake Bay Program's website says that stargazers tend to live at the bottom of deep, open waters, this particular one was found near the shore.

The program says stargazers bury in the sand with their eyes and mouth sticking out in order to ambush prey.

Surfing officials say that while northern stargazers don't pose any real threat to humans, their electric spines make them a serious predator.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Most recent Features stories

The Associated Press

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Notice.
    Newsletter Signup

    KSL Weather Forecast

    KSL Weather Forecast
    Play button