The fish typically live down around 3,000 feet deep along the Pacific Coast and up till now, only four or five had ever been spotted between Washington and British Columbia. This particular specimen is nearly 4.5 feet long and had eyes "the size of a coffee cup," Wildwatch officials described.

The agency's education director surmises the fish just recently washed ashore in the past few days.

"Since there isn’t any noticeable injury, we think it’s likely that this specimen somehow was caught in the surf and washed ashore," said Rachel Easton.