However, the hunt for Nessie has now lasted 82 years, and no one has found any verifiable evidence that the cryptid actually exists. In fact, the famous “Surgeon’s Photo” of the so-called monster that was published in 1934 has since been revealed to be a hoax.
This was not determined by any advanced technology or by a team of skeptics; instead, Christian Spurling, the stepson of the man who took the photo, admitted to the hoax in 1994. Despite this, the search continues, although it may have just become a little bit more deflated.
Have We All Been Catfished?
When most people think of the word catfish, they envision a fish that has long, cat-like whiskers. On the Internet Age, though, catfish has also become a term associated with people who purposefully trick others into thinking they have a different identity. In the case of the Loch Ness Monster, both of these definitions just might turn out to be accurate.
After all, the 1934 hoax involved a fake serpent head and a toy submarine, and this definitely catfished people into believing that the cryptid was real. Now a man who has spent a significant portion of his life tracking the movements of Nessie is convinced that the creature is literally nothing more than a large catfish.
The Catfish Theory
More than two decades ago, Steve Feltham felt compelled to begin looking for the Loch Ness Monster. The 52-year-old was only 28 at the time that he first took up his vigil, and he reportedly left his girlfriend and home behind in order to find conclusive evidence that the cryptid is real.
This has led to Feltham earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World’s Records, but it did not enable him to uncover any viable proof. Now, after 24 years, MSN reports that Feltham has become convinced that Nessie is nothing more than a really large catfish. Although some media reports have suggested otherwise, Feltham is still committed to keeping his watch alive until a conclusive answer can be determined.
Feltham indicated that the Wels catfish is the most likely suspect in one of the longest running cryptid mysteries. These catfish do not have any scales, and they have the potential to grow up to 13 feet long and weigh 880 pounds, according to Reuters. These fish are not native to the area, but some reports say they may have been added to the lake for the purposes of sport during the Victorian Age.
Due to this, it is definitely possible that catfish could be in the lake. The conditions in the lake could have also helped the fish exceed their normal maximum size, which is closer to 6.5 feet and 440 pounds.
How Would a Catfish Confuse People?
Even if catfish are in the lake, most people are probably wondering how they could possibly be confused for the Loch Ness Monster. According to Feltham, catfish have a long, curved back that could easily be taken out of context during a quick glimpse, especially if someone is looking for Nessie.
Feltham also stated that the reported sightings have dwindled over the past few years, and this might be explained by the 30-year average lifecycle of a catfish. If this species is dying out in Loch Ness, sightings would certainly become less prevalent with time.
We may never know for sure what Nessie is, but we do know this: whether it is a giant catfish or simply a huge hoax, believers have most likely been catfished since the very beginning.
