Recently, a family of beachgoers strolling along the waterfront got the fright of their lives.
Ashley Raper Starr and her family were minding their own business, enjoying the warm Virginia Beach sands, when a nearby wave crashed. As the waters retracted back into the ocean, they washed away a bunch of sand, revealing the scariest-looking fish these folks had ever seen.
This family had come upon a stargazer.
These predatory fish typically spend their time swimming deeper waters, burying themselves underneath the sand, and patiently awaiting their prey. However, the one had, somehow or another, found its way closer to shore.
After snapping a few choice photos, this family carefully helped usher this fish further into the ocean.
While these fish seem vicious, they typically steer clear of attacking humans, making their most threatening feature their looks.
Starr told LittleThings, "We know it's just a wonderful encounter with nature and feel blessed to have it on film."
Keep scrolling through our gallery to see how this terrifying fish gave Starr and her family the shock of a lifetime.
[H/T: Mother Nature Network]
Recently, Ashley Raper Starr and her family were strolling along the Virginia Beach when a crashing wave revealed a surprising sight.
The waters washed away some nearby sand to reveal this terrifying-looking fish — a stargazer.
"I live in the North end of Virginia Beach," Starr told LittleThings, "and was taking a beach walk with my husband's family who were visiting from Maryland. My niece, Cara Hotaling, saw the fish first. We were all curious as to what that could be making bubbles in the sand."
"We were making guesses as we waited for the water to run back over it and reveal the critter's identity. (We were guessing and thought a crab or flounder). We were all so surprised and interested to see that face!"
"I have never seen one on the beach," Starr told LittleThings, "and I grew up here and have spent much time on the beach."
These creepy-looking swimmers generally live in deeper waters, but for one reason or another, this one ended up closer to the shore.
After taking a few prized photos, the family grabbed a bucket, which they used to help usher the big fish back toward the open ocean.
Starr told LittleThings, "Jay Hotaling, [her brother-in-law], used a bucket from some close by children to return the fish to the ocean. It was alive and well when we found it and sent him back into the water."
"We were fascinated by the critter and not fearful at all. My family all surfs, paddle boards, boogie boards and swims and we haven't skipped out on any days in the water from this find."
These fish sport both eyes on top of their heads, and burrow deep into the sand whilst awaiting their prey.
When something appetizing swims by, they pounce, startling their prey with self-generated electric shocks.
They've also been known to shoot water from their gills, making the nearby sands "dance." These dancing sands trick nearby fish into thinking smaller critters lurk near, when in reality, it's just the stargazer — waiting to strike.
While this all sounds terrifying, stargazers luckily do not crave humans.
Still, it's always good to take precautions.
Shocked with quite the surprising sight, this beach-going family will likely be telling tales of this stargazer for years to come.
Have you ever spotted one of these before? What would you do if you saw a stargazer at the beach? Let us know in the comments.
Please SHARE this surprising fish with other beach lovers in your community!
