Southern California has been the location of yet, another rare occurrence this week. This time is strangely similar to the first. Just like the first occurrence a rare, serpent like fish has been found on the coast. Known as an oarfish, the creature is said to be the likely cause for many of the historic sea creature legends.An instructor from a nearby marine institute was snorkeling when she found the fish, the U-T San Diego Reports. She then enlisted about a dozen or so onlookers to help drag the 18 foot oarfish up onto the shore where the police were called.

Said to grow to reach lengths of 50 feet, the oarfish is noted as terrible swimmer. Scientists say it is likely that the fish died and was carried by the current, closer to the coastline where it was then spotted.

Because oarfish dive to depths of 3,000 feet or more, it is rare to see them this close to the shoreline. This is the second time in less than a week where the fish has been dragged on shore. The cause is not yet known, but marine biologist have taken tissue samples in hopes of finding the cause.

[caption id="attachment_72000" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Allegedly this Photograph shows US servicemen in Laos during the Vietnam War with a captured Mekong Dragon, Phaya Naga, Mekong Naga or enormously overgrown eel. It is widely circulated in Laos ([1]). However, the photograph was actually taken in 1996 and shows a Giant Oarfish, (Regalecus glesne), found on the shore of the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California. This extremely rare specimen was 23 ft (7.0 m) long and weighed 300 lb (140 kg). The original Photograph can be seen on page 20 of the April 1997 issue of All Hands,[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_71999" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Catalina Island Marine Institute / Reuters
The crew of sailing school vessel Tole Mour and Catalina Island Marine Institute instructors hold an 18-foot-long oarfish that was found in the waters of Toyon Bay on Santa Catalina Island, California in this handout picture courtesy of the Catalina Island Marine Institute taken October 13, 2013. REUTERS/Catalina Island Marine Institute/Handout via Reuters[/caption]