Fraser River
If you've ever heard about the Fraser River, then you probably know that it is famous for being the home of some of the largest creatures in this Earth (or maybe there's some river out there with some extreme sea animal that we have yet to discover).
These creatures in Fraser River are far from your typical findings. Some of these creatures are completely rare and some are even on the brink of extinction.
River Monster Adventures
Naturally, a river that is known for curious animals will attract a lot of fishermen. So Fraser River is not only famous for its creatures but also as an amazing fishing spot.
Jeff Grimolfson took advantage of this and together with a group of people passionate about fishing, he founded a company called River Monster Adventures in 2011. But what was this about?
Not Just For Fun
The group provided tours along the river and it also focused on preserving the environment of the animals that lived in it. For instance, it had a vital role when it came to protecting the river's sturgeon population (a common name for over 27 species of fish).
The group would keep track of the fish by catching them, tagging them, and finally releasing them. Thus, their work shed light on the river's rich biodiversity.
A Unique Vacation
Fraser River gained popularity rather fast, and in 2012, Margaret and Michael Snell, a British couple, decided to make it their travel destination. They were deeply interested in marine biology, so Fraser River seemed like the place to go.
However, what they thought would be a very normal vacation turned out to be something quite different. While relaxing on their rented out boat, hoping to reel a fish in, they felt a very strong tug.
Unbelievable
After a few minutes of tugging and pulling, whatever had gotten caught on the line finally came out. The couple was speechless when they realized what it was.
Since the water in Fraser River is rather murky, they hadn't been able to catch sight of the animal at all. But now out of the water, they saw their catch. It was nothing less than a 12-foot-long fish.
A Startling Sight
What the couple had found was absolutely groundbreaking. However, nobody thought that people would be yet again shocked at a Fraser River finding just two years later.
But Fraser River was ready because not too long after the British couple reeled in the 12-foot-fish, Paul Jarvis and his father made another shocking discovery.
900 Pounds
While the waters seemed rather calm to the point that Paul and his father were about to head home from the lack of catch, a sudden jerk changed everything.
Something had caught the hook and whatever it was, it was extremely strong. Paul could barely hold on but once he gained control, he came face to face with a 900-pound sturgeon.
Something Greater
The 900-pound fish was the size of an adult-sized male polar bear. Therefore, nobody really doubted that this would the the greatest find in Fraser River.
However, while both this giant creature as well as the 12-feet-catch were incredible findings, Fraser River still had a secret that hadn't been exposed yet. Slide next and find out.
Nick McCabe
The next mystery would not be uncovered until Nick McCabe came into the scene. Nick was a teenager who decided to work for River Monster Adventures during the summer of 2014.
As fishing was one of his greatest hobbies and passions, he was thrilled to have the opportunity to work there, but he had no idea what was awaiting him.
A Smooth Beginning
At first, things were going very smoothly. Nick seemed to have been born for the job and one day, he decided to invite his friends over to take a boat out into the river.
Nick had heard the crazy catches in the Fraser River and was hoping that he himself would be able to catch one. But little did he expect what would soon happen.
A Slow Day
While Nick and his friends started out with high hopes, hours passed without anything coming up, to the point that the group started to lose hope. But before giving up, they decided to check out one last spot.
Their minds were already trying to accept the defeat of the day but Nick insisted that this one spot might surprise them. And his persistence finally paid off.
Spotted
Sure enough, the spot that Nick suggested did not disappoint them. It wasn't long before the group caught sight of something that was definitely extraordinary. They rowed their boat closer and prepared to reel in their finding and the impossible happened.
As McCabe recounted: “The fish jumped right out of the river and I said, ‘Well, that looks like a 10-footer, so strap on, we’re going to be into at least a two-hour fight.’”
Incredible Strength
Nick knew that he was in for a fight. But he didn't expect the struggle to last two hours and fifteen minutes. Yes, that is how long he pulled the fishing line for.
Whatever was pulling it, it was certainly something nobody had ever seen. The strength of it was overwhelming, to the point that they even doubted whether it was a fish.
Shocked
After what felt like the longest fight ever and after McCabe and his friends seemed to have exhausted all of their physical and mental energy, something emerged from the murky waters.
What happened next would leave anybody with their mouths gaping open. What came out shocked them beyond imagination. Can you guess what animal it was?
Extraordinary Finding
There was no doubt that what they had caught was out of the ordinary. This was not a common sturgeon, it was something unique. In all honesty, it didn't resemble a fish that much but rather, a sea monster.
Its appearance was very strange. With a long snout that ended in what seemed to be a pig's snout, this fish had never been seen before. It was almost twice their size!
A Legend
The group thought that they had caught a river monster, but soon enough, they would find out that they were mistaken. What they had caught was in fact a local legend.
The huge fish had a name of its own: Pig Nose. Apparently, the sturgeon wasn't born looking like that. On the contrary, an accident had caused its strange-looking nose.
The Legend
According to the local lenged, 40 years ago, Pig Nose was hit by someone or something. Regardless of what it was, it left Pig Nose with a very large wound, but resilient as he was, he overcame this.
Unfortunately, while his wound healed, the scars were there to stay. Unfortunately, the incident caused Pig Nose to be forever deformed. Or so they say!
A Wise Fish
You might be thinking that the incident happened 40 years ago and that that Pig Nose was injured when he was still a juvenile.
However, you'd be surprised to find that Pig Nose is actually about 80 years old and still growing, which means that it was already an adult fish when the tragedy occurred.
Making History
Nick McCabe's catch was a huge event, for he was the very first person to ever catch Pig Nose. While the fish was a legend in the area, nobody had really seen it to the extent that Nick had.
To celebrate such an occasion, Nick and Pig Nose took a picture together. McCabe wanted to make sure that Pig Nose would not perceive him as the enemy.
Forever Together
That day, when Pig Nose was released back into the waters, Nick didn't really expect to see him again any time soon. But on another summer day, when McCabe was sailing the waters for a break, he spotted something large in the river.
He couldn't believe it: he had caught Pig Nose again! After this incidence, McCabe knew that Pig Nose was very special. How lucky was he?