Two men go fishing and catch a giant oarfish

Two Australian men have caught a giant oarfish - one of the world's rarest fish - in the Top End.

A social media post shows the two posing next to the fish, which is characterised by its horse-like head, large eyes and long, slender body.

One expert noted that such a catch in the Top End is extremely rare.

Two men take a photo with an oarfish.

'This is the first time I've heard of anyone catching paddlefish in this area ,' said NT News fishing columnist Alex Julius, adding that most paddlefish are usually found washed up on shore or dead.

However, he notes that oarfish are not known for their culinary value. "They are not particularly tasty to eat, as they have a jelly-like texture ," he explains.

A photo of the giant fish posted on Fishing Australia TV's Facebook page on the evening of September 20 attracted 1,300 comments and 470 shares.

The giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne) was first described in 1772, but is rarely seen because it lives deep in the ocean. According to scientists, the oarfish is the longest living bony creature in the world, reaching a length of 17m and weighing up to 270kg.

The silvery oarfish is sometimes called the 'king of herrings' because of its resemblance to this small fish. However, it is named oarfish because of its long, oar-like pectoral fins. It can swim vertically at depths of up to 1,000m and is often called the 'Doomsday Fish'.

Oarfish feed only on small plankton and have a small opening to function as a digestive system. They don't even have true teeth, but rather have slender structures called gill rakers to catch small prey.

Oarfish are sometimes spotted on the surface of the ocean, but scientists believe this is because they are pushed ashore by storms or strong currents, or because they have died in accidents. Oarfish may look like a fearsome sea monster, but they have never been considered a threat to humans.