The Fish In The Mirror

Talk about a face only a mother could love.  I can just imagine a wolfish right after she’s given birth, looking down at all the little wolfies staring back at her, and thinking, aren't they just the most gorgeous creatures you've ever seen! 

That being said, in my opinion, wolfish are the most human-looking of all the fish out there.  I know that sounds like I have a pretty low opinion of our outward beauty (I can just hear Seinfeld, “Have you been down to the DMV lately?”), but it’s true.  About the wolfish, I mean.  Unlike most fish, their heads are fairly rounded and their eyes face almost to the front.  And I've definitely seen teeth like that  – granted, usually only when I’m in the UK, but still.

To add just a bit more insult to my own species, I also think it’s their resemblance to us that makes them kind of scary looking.  You’re swimming along and all of a sudden, here comes this big, blue, humanish-looking face looming up out of the darkness.  It's definitely more frightening than Jason or Freddy.

Add it all up and what you get is a fish most of us can’t resist.  I've definitely never swum by one, or seen anyone else swim by one, without stopping to gawk for at least a minute or two.  It’s too bad there aren't more of them left here in southern New England, but if you want to come face-to-face with one, there are still quite a few up in northern Maine and Canada.  I shot this handsome guy, along with three others, this past weekend on Deer Island in New Brunswick.  So be honest – wouldn't he fit in just fine down at the DMV?