Boo! Halloween is upon us and it’s time to scare ourselves silly. There’s some spooky places about, a churchyard in the dead of night perhaps or the old haunted house deep in the dark woods. However, the fishmonger’s slab can feature some frightening sights too. Keep on reading to discover our Top 5 Most Frightful Looking Fish (including one crab).
5. Conger Eel
The Conger Eel comes with a fearsome reputation. This bad-tempered, snake-like, territorial terror hangs out in dark nooks and crannies waiting for its next unfortunate prey to come along. With large jaws and a powerful bite, Conger Eels can make light work of all manner of fish, worms and crabs.
One Conger living in Irish waters also fancied a piece of scuba diver, Jimmy Griffin.
“Suddenly I got hit in the face,” said Jimmy. “But what made it different was because the Conger Eel gripped onto my face and started biting, pulling and twisting.”
I felt this sharp horrible pain and saw this eel swim off. I knew I had been bitten but didn’t know how badly, it was very numb,” he added. Would you boo-lieve it.
4. Spider Crab
I think the Spider Crab is a magnificent creature, but I’d also have to agree it’s a little frightful looking.
The Spider Crab is the largest of the crab species found in UK waters. In late summer to early autumn, Spider Crabs gather in enormous numbers to moult and mate.
When I say ‘enormous’ I mean ‘enormous’. Temporary mountain ranges of Spider Crabs form for the month-long fiesta of moulting and mating.
The Spider Crab can also be a fearful foe for anglers, reportedly snapping lines and hooks to get to the bait.
However, it has to be said – the Spider Crab makes for wonderful eating. If you see a Spider Crab at your fishmonger, don’t ghoul around, they’re perfect for goblin up.
3. Weever fish
Ok, we’re bending the rules a touch here. The Greater Weever makes for good eating, and a bouillabaisse isn’t considered a bouillabaisse without one. Weevers are rarely seen on fishmongers’ slabs, but if you do chance upon one, it’ll be the Greater Weever.
However, it’s the Lesser Weever that makes our list. It’s an ugly looking little thing. One that in summer moves into the shallows in search of food. However, being a little lazy, the fish buries itself in the sand – disguised and waiting to ambush.
Considerately, the Lesser Weever doesn’t entirely bury itself. It leaves its dorsal fin poking up through the sand. Less considerately, that dorsal fin is venomous. Shallow water, hot day, bare feet. You can guess what happens next.
I’ve stepped on a Lesser Weever. I can only describe the pain as like someone ramming a hot poker into the sole of your foot and leaving it there for an hour or so.
Sinking your foot in water as hot as you can stand helps to break down the venom and reduce the pain. Still, the Lesser Weever makes our list for its spook-tacular audacity and ability to literally make you scream!
2. The Wolf-fish
Well, what can I say about the Wolf-fish. With it’s seal-like body and dog-like teeth, this is one creepy-looking fish. It’s unsurprising to learn that this fish goes by another name, the Devil Fish.
The Marine Conservation Society note that the Wolf-fish is sometimes given the title of Britain’s Ugliest Fish. Let’s face it, it’s not difficult to see why.
Spookily, the blood of the Wolf-fish has anti-freezing properties and its skin can be used as leather. Sounds ideal for fashioning your very own Arctic brogues.
Despite their fearsome appearance, Wolf-fish are thought to be shy and reclusive. In the north of the country, Wolf-fish are sometimes sold in fish and chips shops as Scotch Halibut, Woof, Scarborough Woof or Woof-fish.
The Wolf-fish makes the number two spot on our frightful Howl-oween fish list for its frightening appearance, and multiple nightmare-inducing names.
1. The Monkfish
Here’s a fish that looks so terrifying that it’s actually sold without its head on. Think about that for a moment. Its head is removed for fear of scaring customers. That’s truly frightening stuff. It’s also a bit of a shame, as Monkfish cheeks make for very good eating.
It’s difficult to find the words to accurately describe just how ugly this fish is. With it’s huge, wide mouth full of razor sharp, hinged teeth, the Monkfish looks capable of devouring a small pig (or twelve).
Weirdly, the Monkfish also possesses a protuberance, or lure, on the top of its head which it uses to attract smaller fish towards its cavernous mouth. Once in range, the Monkfish attacks.
This method of catching prey gives the Monkfish one of its other names, the Anglerfish.
Incredibly, this strange creature also has an expandable stomach. There are even reports of Monkfish being found with lobsters and crabs in their stomachs.
The Monkfish might be our number one frightful looking fish, but it actually makes for wonderful eating. Its tail is great roasted whole with loads of garlic. There’s a great recipe in Mitch Tonks Fish (read our review of Mitch Tonks Fish).
So there you have it, the Fish Face Seafood Blog Frightful Fish List. Spook-tacular.