Original subtitles

MYSTERIOUS TALES OF UNSOLVED MURDER CASES,

SUSPICIOUS ATTACKS

THAT COULD BE EXPLAINED BY AN UNDERWATER CREATURE

ALWAYS CATCH MY EYE.

AND RECENTLY, I CAME ACROSS A VERY STRANGE CASE INDEED.

Wade: IN 2011 ON A BEACH IN MEXICO,

FIVE FISHERMAN WASHED UP DEAD.

THE ARTICLE STATES THAT

THE CORPSES WERE BADLY BEATEN WITH HORRIFIC BRUISES.

IT SOUNDS TERRIBLE,

BUT IN A COUNTRY RAVAGED BY DRUG WARS,

FINDING MUTILATED BODIES IS NOT NECESSARILY UNUSUAL.

IT'S WHAT COMES NEXT THAT HAS REALLY GRABBED MY ATTENTION.

IT WASN'T THE POLICE, BUT A MARINE BIOLOGIST

WHO WAS CALLED IN TO INVESTIGATE

BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE REPORT,

THE FINGER OF SUSPICION DOESN'T POINT TO A HUMAN,

BUT TO A DEADLY SEA CREATURE.

MY NAME IS JEREMY WADE,

AND I NORMALLY INVESTIGATE CASES OF RIVER MONSTERS...

FISH ON! FISH ON!

...FRESHWATER KILLERS

THAT PLAGUE THE RIVERS AND LAKES OF OUR PLANET.

THIS THING REALLY IS A RIVER MONSTER.

MYSTERIES OF THE SEA ARE OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE,

BUT THIS STORY ABOUT FISHERMAN ATTACKED

BY A MYSTERIOUS SEA CREATURE IS SO INTRIGUING,

I CAN'T IGNORE IT.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

**

I'M INVESTIGATING A CHILLING STORY

ABOUT FIVE DEAD FISHERMEN

WASHED UP ON A BEACH IN MEXICO'S SEA OF CORTEZ.

ONE OF THE KEY CLUES

IS THAT THE BODIES WERE COVERED IN STRANGE WOUNDS.

THE LOCAL MARINE BIOLOGIST WAS CONVINCED

THAT THEY WERE THE WORK OF AN ANIMAL.

THE MARINE PREDATOR THAT ALWAYS SPRINGS TO MIND IS A SHARK.

BUT SHARKS LEAVE A CLEAR SIGNATURE,

A WOUND WITH THE DISTINCT CURVE

OF A SHARK'S JAW.

TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS CASE,

I NEED SOME DETAILS ABOUT THOSE MYSTERIOUS WOUNDS.

BUT I CAN'T TRACK DOWN

THE MARINE BIOLOGIST IN THE ARTICLE.

MM-HMM.

NOBODY'S HEARD OF HIM.

I'M BEGINNING TO HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT THIS STORY.

BUT I HAVE UNEARTHED OTHER STRANGE REPORTS

OF FISHERMEN ATTACKED BY MYSTERIOUS CREATURES

IN THE SEA OF CORTEZ.

THIS ONE TALKS ABOUT TWO MEXICAN FISHERMEN

DRAGGED FROM THEIR BOATS AND CHEWED SO BADLY,

THEIR BODIES COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED,

EVEN BY THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

AND ANOTHER ONE ABOUT A MAN WHO FELL OVERBOARD.

AS HE REACHED UP FOR HELP, HE WAS PULLED TO THE DEPTHS,

NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN.

FINDING SUCH SIMILAR STORIES

IN ONE LOCATION CAN'T BE A COINCIDENCE.

I NEED TO GET ON THE GROUND TO INVESTIGATE.

MEXICO'S BAJA PENINSULA IS A REMOTE STRIP OF LAND

SEPARATED FROM THE MAINLAND BY THE NOTORIOUS SEA OF CORTEZ.

THESE INFAMOUS WATERS HAVE A DARK HISTORY OF VIOLENCE,

STORIES OF HIDDEN COVES

WHERE SPANISH PIRATES BURIED THEIR TREASURE,

AND WHERE DRUG CARTELS STILL BURY THEIR VICTIMS.

SANTA ROSALíA IS ONE OF THE FEW POPULATED AREAS,

A REMOTE FISHING COMMUNITY.

I ASK AROUND TO SEE IF ANYONE KNOWS ABOUT THE ATTACKS.

I'M TOLD I NEED TO GO TO THE BEACH AT SUNSET

TO SPEAK TO THE LOCALS

BEFORE THEY HEAD OUT NIGHT FISHING.

OKAY, GRACIAS.

BUENOS NOCHES. -BUENOS NOCHES.

[ SPEAKS SPANISH ]

I ASK ABOUT THE FIVE DEAD BODIES.

THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF THE CASE.

BUT THEY DO HAVE OTHER STORIES

OF FISHERMEN WHO WERE ATTACKED AT SEA,

INCLUDING ONE ABOUT A MAN LEFT COVERED IN UNUSUAL BITE MARKS.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE STORIES

THAT BROUGHT ME HERE AND ADDS TO MY SUSPICION THAT

THERE'S AN ELUSIVE PREDATOR IN THESE WATERS.

[ CONTINUES SPEAKING SPANISH ]

BUT WHEN I ASK WHERE I CAN FIND THIS MAN,

I'M TOLD HE COMMITTED SUICIDE.

[ SPEAKS SPANISH ]

I'M TOO LATE FOR THAT VICTIM.

BUT THE FISHERMEN TELL ME THE ATTACKS HAPPENED

IN DEEP TRENCHES OFF THE COAST.

THE SEA OF CORTEZ SITS ON A SERIES OF MAJOR FAULT LINES

AND WAS FORMED WHEN THE EARTH'S TECTONIC PLATES RIPPED APART.

UNDER THE SURFACE ARE UNDERWATER CANYONS

WITH DEPTHS REACHING THOUSANDS OF FEET.

THE NEXT MORNING, I HIRE A BOAT TO TAKE ME OUT TO SEA.

I NEED TO GET MY LINE IN THE WATER

TO FIND OUT WHAT IS REALLY OUT THERE.

**

AS WE APPROACH THE DEEP WATERS,

I START TO SEE AN ABUNDANCE OF LIFE.

THERE'S SOME BIG OL' SEA LIONS ON THIS, UH, ROCK HERE.

NOW THEY MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE BIT CUDDLY

AND COMICAL OUT OF WATER... [ SEA LIONS BARKING ]

...BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY VERY EFFICIENT PREDATORS.

THEY'VE BASICALLY GOT TEETH RATHER LIKE A DOG.

LIKE SHARKS, SEA LIONS WOULD LEAVE VERY DISTINCTIVE MARKS

AND CERTAINLY NOT THE UNUSUAL WOUNDS

I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT.

BUT THE FACT REMAINS,

THE FISHERMEN HERE HAVE BEEN ATTACKED BY SOMETHING

THAT LIVES BENEATH THE SURFACE.

THIS IS WHAT I'M GONNA PUT ON THE END OF THE LINE.

THIS MIMICS SMALL FISH IN THE WATER.

I'M USING WIRE BECAUSE THE CHANCES ARE ANYTHING

THAT GOES AFTER A SMALL FISH IS GONNA HAVE TEETH.

SO LET'S CLIP THAT ON HERE.

THERE YOU GO. THAT'S READY TO GO IN.

WE MOTOR AT SPEED,

SO MY LURES MOVE LIKE SMALL FISH FLEEING A PREDATOR.

ALL RIGHT. ALL SET.

NOW WE JUST, UH, WE JUST WAIT AND WATCH.

BUT I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG.

OH, YEAH.

**

SO LIFT.

WIND DOWN.

LIFT.

WIND DOWN.

IT DOESN'T FEEL VERY BIG, WHATEVER IT IS.

THIS ISN'T A FISH THAT'S CAPABLE OF ATTACKING A HUMAN,

BUT IT'S A PROMISING SIGN.

SKIPJACK TUNA AND, UH,

THESE ARE PERFECT MEALS FOR ANYTHING LARGER.

AND THE FACT THAT THESE ARE AROUND --

I MEAN, IT'S A BIT LIKE, YOU KNOW,

IF THE ZEBRAS ARE AROUND,

YOU KNOW THE LIONS ARE GONNA BE THERE SOMEWHERE.

I WONDER IF I CAN USE THIS MEAL-SIZED FISH

TO MY ADVANTAGE AND UP MY GAME.

I'M NOW FISHING WITH ONE OF THESE, UH,

SKIPJACKS AS BAIT.

WITH A WHOLE SKIPJACK TUNA ON THE END OF MY LINE,

I'M HOPING TO ATTRACT A MUCH BIGGER PREDATOR.

OH!

THIS ROD JUST SPRUNG BACK.

DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S ANYTHING ON THERE.

THIS IS WEIRD. THIS IS WEIRD.

THAT WAS DEFINITELY A BITE,

BUT THE TUNA AND THE END OF MY LEADER ARE GONE.

SOMETHING HAS JUST BITTEN THROUGH A PIECE OF WIRE.

ANYTHING THAT CAN BITE THROUGH WIRE

MUST HAVE SOME SERIOUS TEETH.

THERE'S CLEARLY A BIG PREDATOR DOWN THERE.

WELL, I'M NOT GONNA FIND OUT WHAT THAT WAS

BECAUSE, UH, IT'S GONE.

BUT I THINK, UH, NOTHING FOR IT REALLY

BUT TO GET THIS LINE IN AGAIN.

WITH ANOTHER WHOLE SKIPJACK AS A BAIT,

I'M HOPING TO LURE THE CULPRIT BACK.

OH, THERE WE GO. I SAW THAT ONE SURFACE.

SAW THAT SURFACE.

THIS TIME, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S STILL THERE.

WE USED THE POWER OF THE ENGINE TO SET THE HOOK.

GO! GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO GO!

[ ENGINE REVS ] OH!

**

**

Wade: I'M IN THE SEA OF CORTEZ IN MEXICO

INVESTIGATING MYSTERIOUS ATTACKS ON FISHERMEN,

UNUSUAL BITES,

AND NIGHTMARE ENCOUNTERS.

I'M SEARCHING THE WATER, TRYING TO LURE IN A PREDATOR.

AND I'M USING A WHOLE 4-POUND FISH AS BAIT.

SOMETHING HAS JUST BITTEN THROUGH A PIECE OF WIRE.

MY METAL LEADER HAS ALREADY BEEN BITTEN OFF,

SO I KNOW THERE'S SOME KIND OF POWERFUL PREDATOR OUT THERE.

OH, YEAH.

GO! GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!

[ ENGINE REVS ]

WITH A NEW LINE IN THE WATER, WHATEVER'S DOWN THERE

HAS LATCHED ON TO AN ENTIRE SKIPJACK TUNA.

NOTHING JUMPING YET.

BUT, UH, WHATEVER IT WAS CAME UP ON THE SURFACE

BEFORE IT MADE THAT FINAL HIT.

THERE'S SOMETHING. IT'S OFF. IS IT OFF?

UM, THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

SOMETHING HAS JUST, UH, TORN THE, YOU KNOW, FISH.

TORN ITS HEAD OFF, BASICALLY.

THE FACT THAT NOTHING ACTUALLY JUMPED OUT OF THE WATER,

THE FACT THAT THIS HAS JUST BEEN CUT PRETTY CLEANLY

OFF THE REST OF THE BODY...

UM, IT'S CUT THROUGH FLESH.

IT'S ALSO CUT THROUGH THE -- THE BACKBONE.

AND IT'S CUT THROUGH THE GILL PLATE HERE.

SO THAT SPEAKS VERY MUCH OF SHARP TEETH.

AND WITH THAT SORTA SHAPE THERE, IT'S LIKE A SIGNATURE.

AND THE SIGNATURE SAYS VERY CLEARLY SHARK OF SOME SORT.

THIS WOULD EXPLAIN MY BITTEN OFF LEADER.

BUT I DON'T THINK THIS HELPS MY INVESTIGATION.

GREAT WHITES, HAMMERHEADS, AND MAKOS

ARE ALL NATIVE TO THESE WATERS.

BUT I'VE ALREADY RULED OUT SHARKS

BECAUSE THEIR BITE MARKS ARE SO DISTINCT.

I CAN'T IMAGINE A SHARK'S JAW LEAVING

THE UNUSUAL BRUISES AND WOUNDS I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT.

MY INVESTIGATION SEEMS TO BE GOING NOWHERE FAST

WHEN ONE OF MY REELS STARTS SCREAMING.

YEAH. GO.

[ ENGINE REVS ]

OH! [ THUD ]

-REEL, REEL, REEL, REEL, REEL. -REEL, REEL.

GET IT, GET IT, GET IT.

OH! WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

NO SLACK, NO SLACK, NO SLACK, NO SLACK, NO SLACK, NO SLACK,

NO SLACK.

WE'RE ON THE BRAID NOW.

WE'RE OFF THE NYLON. AND IT'S RUNNING.

IT'S JUST RUNNING, RUNNING, RUNNING.

RIGHT.

NICE. CAN FEEL HIM. OH, THERE IT IS, THERE IT IS.

IT'S 40, 50 YARDS OFF.

IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO THE BOAT.

SO A STRIPED MARLIN, THIS, UH,

SEE THE STRIPE -- VERTICAL STRIPES ON THE BODY.

FOR A HUMBLE NOVICE TO SEA FISHING,

THIS IS A LANDMARK CATCH.

MARLIN ARE TRULY ICONIC FISH.

AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME

I'VE EVEN SEEN A STRIPED MARLIN.

YEAH, YEAH. THAT'S GOOD.

[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

SO...

RIGHT. WE'VE GOT VERY LITTLE TIME.

WE GOTTA GET THIS BACK IN THE WATER QUICKLY.

THIS IS A STRIPED MARLIN.

UH, YOU CAN SEE THE STRIPES,

NOT SO CLEARLY NOW, VERTICALLY ON THE BODY.

UM, BUT, YOU KNOW,

THIS THING, EVERYTHING TELLS YOU IT'S JUST BUILT FOR SPEED.

WITH A BODY AS STREAMLINED AS A SPACESHIP,

THE MARLIN IS ONE OF THE FASTEST FISH IN THE OCEAN,

REACHING SPEEDS OF UP TO 50 MILES AN HOUR.

ITS SWORDLIKE BILL IS USED FOR HUNTING.

WHEN IT ATTACKS SHOALS OF FISH, THIS WEAPON STUNS THE PREY.

LOOK AT THOSE EYES. THOSE ARE BIG EYES.

ONE VERY INTERESTING THING

ABOUT THIS FISH IS FISH ARE COLD-BLOODED.

BUT THIS PARTICULAR FISH, IT HAS HEATING FOR ITS EYES.

A SPECIALLY ADAPTED MUSCLE PROVIDES HEAT ENERGY TO THE EYE

AND ENABLES THE MARLIN TO CAPTURE LIGHT MORE QUICKLY.

LIKE A HIGH-SPEED CAMERA, THIS SUPERPOWERED VISION

TURNS A BLUR OF FAST MOVING PREY INTO A CLEAR TARGET.

TIME TO GO BACK. OKAY.

THESE NATURAL-BORN KILLERS ARE PRECISION MARKSMEN,

PERFECTLY ADAPTED TO THE FAST PACE OF THE OCEAN.

UH, WELL, THEN, THAT IS A BIG PREDATORY FISH.

FISHERMEN PULLING IN BIG MARLIN

HAVE BEEN SPEARED BY THAT LETHAL BILL.

BUT THESE WERE ACCIDENTAL ENCOUNTERS,

LEAVING A SINGLE, DISTINCTIVE WOUND.

THE STORIES I'VE HEARD SPEAK OF MULTIPLE WOUNDS.

I'M LOOKING FOR AN ANIMAL CAPABLE OF A SUSTAINED ATTACK,

A PERSISTENT SERIAL KILLER

OR PERHAPS A PACK OF PREDATORS.

I'M STARTING TO WONDER

IF I'M ONLY SKIMMING THE SURFACE

OF WHAT'S DOWN THERE.

I'M QUITE LITERALLY OUT OF MY DEPTH.

REGULARLY, THE DEPTH SOUNDER IS PICKING UP 1,000 FEET.

THERE ARE TIMES, EVEN, WHEN THAT CAN'T FIND THE BOTTOM.

AND, UM, THIS IS JUST SO DIFFERENT

FROM THE KIND OF FISHING THAT I NORMALLY DO.

I'M USED TO FISHING RIVERS AND LAKES THAT ARE TENS,

OR AT MOST HUNDREDS OF FEET DEEP.

BUT THIS IS A VAST OCEAN.

EVEN MORE THAN MY USUAL INVESTIGATIONS,

FINDING A KILLER OUT HERE

IS LIKE LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.

AS WE HEAD BACK, I WONDER IF I NEED A NEW APPROACH.

BACK IN SANTA ROSALíA, COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN

ARE BRINGING IN THEIR DAILY CATCH.

WHEREVER I AM IN THE WORLD,

THE FISHING DOCKS CAN PROVIDE VITAL CLUES,

A ROGUES GALLERY OF POTENTIAL SUSPECTS.

PERHAPS HERE I'LL FIND EVIDENCE OF OTHER BIG PREDATORS

THAT PROWL THESE WATERS.

THESE ARE MACKEREL FEATHERS, THEY'RE USED TO CATCH MACKEREL.

UM, WHICH THEY'RE JUST UNLOADING FROM THIS BARREL HERE.

OH. GRACIAS.

OOH. LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE EYE ON THIS FISH.

THIS IS WHAT GOES FOR

THOSE BRIGHTLY COLORED MACKEREL FEATHERS THERE.

VERY NICE MEAL-SIZED FISH, THIS.

BUT, UM, NO QUESTION OF THIS BEING A MAN-EATER, REALLY.

QUITE A FEW NICE YELLOWTAIL COMING IN,

THEY ARE OF COURSE PREDATORY FISH,

UM, VERY MUSCULAR THEY ARE.

BUT NO WAY ARE THEY ANY DANGER TO ANYBODY IN THE WATER.

OVER THE YEARS, MY MANY TRIPS TO DOCKS LIKE THIS

HAVE GIVEN ME A BIT OF A SIXTH SENSE.

AND I'M REALIZING THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING HERE.

THE ONE THING THAT HAS STRUCK ME IS ALL THIS OUT HERE

IS PERFECT SHARK HABITAT,

BUT NO SHARKS WHATSOEVER COMING IN.

AND I HAVE TO SAY,

I'M JUST FINDING THAT A LITTLE BIT PUZZLING.

I HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN EVIDENCE OF SHARKS IN THESE WATERS.

AND SHARK MEAT CAN BE HIGHLY PROFITABLE.

SO I'D EXPECT TO SEE THEM BEING BROUGHT IN HERE.

THE FACT THAT NOBODY IS CATCHING THEM IS SURPRISING.

AS WITH ANY INVESTIGATION,

AN ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE CAN BE SIGNIFICANT.

AND WHEN I ASK WHY THEY DON'T FISH FOR SHARK, ONE MAN,

WHO DOESN'T WANT TO BE FILMED, GIVES ME AN INTRIGUING LEAD.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

SO I'VE JUST BEEN TALKING TO SOMEONE

WHO SAYS IF I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE,

THERE'S A PLACE I NEED TO SEE.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT CLOAK AND DAGGER.

BUT, UM, NO, HE WAS VERY CLEAR THAT I NEED TO SEE THIS PLACE.

HE DESCRIBED A LOCATION FURTHER DOWN THE COAST

WHICH HE REFERRED TO AS A CEMENTERIO,

A CEMETERY.

**

THE DIRECTIONS LEAD ME DOWN A REMOTE DIRT TRACK,

AND THE LANDSCAPE BECOMES MORE BARREN.

AND AS I GET CLOSER...

YOU CAN SEE LOTS OF VULTURES UP AHEAD.

...I SPOT SIGNS OF DEATH.

THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON HERE.

**

**

Wade: I'M ON THE HUNT FOR A SEA CREATURE

THAT HAS BEEN ATTACKING FISHERMEN

OFF MEXICO'S BAJA PENINSULA,

A FEARSOME PREDATOR

THAT INFLICTS UNUSUAL BITE MARKS.

MY SEARCH FOR CLUES TO THE IDENTITY OF THE BEAST

HAS LED ME TO A LOCATION DESCRIBED AS A CEMENTERIO.

AT FIRST, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE'S MUCH HERE.

THIS LOOKS LIKE JUST THE KINDA PLACE

WHERE PEOPLE, UM... THROW DEAD FISH.

WHICH, I SUPPOSE, YOU COULD CALL A "CEMETERY" OF SORTS.

SO THIS IS... UH, I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT'S THAT? THAT'S A PARROTFISH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

HMM.

THERE'S A STRONG STENCH OF DEAD FLESH.

BUT I'M STILL WONDERING WHY I'VE BEEN SENT HERE,

WHEN SOMETHING CATCHES MY EYE.

THIS IS DIFFERENT. THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT HERE.

[ INSECTS BUZZING ]

SUDDENLY, I'M SURROUNDED BY CORPSES.

UH, THIS IS A SHARK.

OH, AND I'M ALMOST STEPPING ON SOMETHING HERE.

I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.

THERE'S THE PELVIC FINS, AND THERE'S ONE OF THE CLASPERS.

SO THIS WAS A MALE SHARK.

AND, UH, THIS IS...

I'M ASSUMING THIS IS FROM THE SAME INDIVIDUAL.

THIS IS PART OF THE TAIL. THIS IS QUITE A LARGE...

QUITE A LARGE SHARK, AND FRESH.

THERE'S SOMETHING OVER HERE.

THAT'S A HAMMERHEAD.

THINGS ARE SUDDENLY STARTING TO ADD UP,

AND THIS CREEPY LOCATION IS BEGINNING TO MAKE SENSE.

UGH.

SO THIS IS QUITE INTERESTING.

NO SHARKS COMING IN AT THE PORT, WHEN I WAS THERE.

AND ALSO PEOPLE VERY CLEARLY SAYING NOBODY'S CATCHING SHARKS.

BUT SOMEBODY IS.

AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE HERE ON THIS DESERTED BEACH,

NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOWN, SUGGESTS THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW,

A BIT ON THE SHADY SIDE, SHALL WE SAY?

WELL, I'M GUESSING THERE'S A LOCAL BAN ON SHARK FISHING.

AND THEY'RE BEING CAUGHT ILLEGALLY.

IN MY EXPERIENCE, FISHING BANS ARE PUT IN PLACE

WHEN AN ANIMAL IS IN SERIOUS DECLINE.

THIS MAY BE A CLUE FOR MY INVESTIGATION.

NATURE HATES A VACUUM.

AND IF THE NORMAL TOP PREDATORS ARE BEING REMOVED,

THAT COULD ALLOW SOMETHING ELSE TO TAKE OVER.

AND PERHAPS THAT CREATURE IS BEHIND THE ATTACKS

I'VE HEARD ABOUT.

I'VE SEEN A SITUATION LIKE THIS BEFORE.

IN THE U.S., THE ALLIGATOR GAR IS AN APEX PREDATOR

WHOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN SEVERELY DEPLETED.

COMIN' OVER. [ GRUNTS ]

AND THIS DECLINE

HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A HORRIFIC INVASION.

WITH NOTHING TO CONTROL THEIR NUMBERS,

INVASIVE ASIAN CARP

HAVE TAKEN OVER WHOLE STRETCHES OF RIVER

IN THE MIDWEST,

AND ARE THREATENING DISASTER IN THE GREAT LAKES.

THERE'S UP TO 13 TONS OF THESE FISH

FOR EVERY MILE ON THE RIVER.

AND I'M WONDERING IF A SIMILAR THING

COULD BE HAPPENING HERE IN MEXICO,

A NEW PREDATOR FILLING THE VOID AND WREAKING HAVOC,

PERHAPS SOMETHING MUCH MORE TERRIFYING THAN SHARKS.

I NEED SOME LOCAL INTEL

TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.

FRANCISCO HAS LIVED ON THIS STRETCH OF COAST

ALL HIS LIFE.

¿Y CUANDO LOS TIBURONES?

MUCHO, MUCHO, MUCHO.

HE TELLS ME THAT WHEN HE WAS YOUNG,

THE SEA WAS FULL OF SHARKS.

[ SPEAKS SPANISH ]

BUT PEOPLE QUICKLY REALIZED

THAT SHARK MEAT WAS VERY VALUABLE.

[ SPEAKS SPANISH ]

FISHERMEN HERE STARTED CATCHING THEM EN MASSE

TO SELL FOR SHARK FIN SOUP,

SOMETIMES USING DYNAMITE TO BRING IN HUNDREDS AT ONCE.

THAT'S VERY INTERESTING. THAT'S, UM...

THAT'S CONFIRMED THE SUSPICIONS THAT I WAS HAVING.

THE -- THE SHARK HERE ARE IN DECLINE.

THEY SAY IT'S A FEW DECADES SINCE THE, YOU KNOW, TH--

TH-- THERE WAS ANY NUMBER OF SHARKS AROUND.

AND, YES, THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE

THAT'S MOVED IN AND TAKEN OVER.

SOMETHING THEY CALL EL DIABLO ROJO,

TRANSLATES AS "THE RED DEVIL," SOUNDS VERY MELODRAMATIC.

AND THEY'VE GIVEN ME THE ADDRESS

OF A FISHERMAN WHO KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THEM.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

I MAY HAVE MY FIRST CONCRETE LEAD --

THE NAME OF A DEVIL-LIKE BEAST

AND A MAN WHO CAN TELL ME ABOUT THEM.

IS THIS DIABLO ROJO

THE SEA CREATURE THAT I'M LOOKING FOR,

THE FEARSOME ANIMAL

THAT HAS BEEN TERRORIZING THESE WATERS?

**

THE ANSWER RIGHT AFTER THIS.

Wade: I ASKED...

THE ANSWER -- COWS.

IN THE U.S., 20 PEOPLE ARE KILLED EVERY YEAR BY COWS,

MOSTLY WORKERS ON CATTLE FARMS.

THAT'S MORE THAN THREE TIMES

THE NUMBER KILLED EVERY YEAR BY SNAKES

AND 20 TIMES THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED BY SHARKS.

**

I'M IN MEXICO, HUNTING FOR A MYSTERIOUS SEA CREATURE,

THE PERPETRATOR OF NIGHTMARE ATTACKS,

DISTINGUISHED BY STRANGE BITE MARKS.

I FOUND OUT THAT A SEVERE DECLINE IN SHARKS HAS

CONTRIBUTED TO A NEW PREDATOR TAKING THEIR PLACE,

SOMETHING THE LOCALS CALL EL DIABLO ROJO,

"THE RED DEVIL."

COULD THIS BE THE NIGHTMARE BEAST I'M LOOKING FOR?

I'M JUST TRYING TO PUZZLE OUT THE POSSIBLE IDENTITY

OF THIS DIABLO ROJO,

THIS, UH, RED DEVIL THAT I'VE JUST BEEN TOLD ABOUT.

NOW, CLEARLY SOMETHING PRETTY TERRIFYING.

OTHERWISE, WHY WOULD YOU GIVE IT SUCH A DRAMATIC NAME?

I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A RED DEVIL BEFORE,

BUT I HAVE COME ACROSS THE TERM "DEVIL FISH."

THE GRAY WHALE WAS NICKNAMED DEVIL FISH

BECAUSE OF ITS VIOLENT BEHAVIOR WHEN HARPOONED.

BUT ALTHOUGH GRAY WHALES ARE BIG,

AND THEY ARE FOUND HERE, THEY'RE NOT REALLY PREDATORS.

I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD ATTACK MULTIPLE FISHERMEN

OR INFLICT MYSTERIOUS WOUNDS.

AND ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IS THE DEVIL RAY.

MANTA RAYS ARE SOMETIMES CALLED "DEVIL FISH."

AND THAT'S DOWN TO THE PECULIAR ANATOMY OF THEIR HEADS.

THEY HAVE THESE PROJECTIONS, WHICH LOOK LIKE HORNS.

THERE ARE CASES OF RAYS PLAGUING THE WATER

WHEN SHARKS GO INTO DECLINE.

AND MANTA RAYS ARE NATIVE TO THE SEA OF CORTEZ.

AND THEY ARE CAST AS VILLAINS IN SOME LEGENDS,

TALES OF THEM CIRCLING BOATS AND ATTACKING PEARL DIVERS.

BUT RAYS ARE FILTER FEEDERS.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE ANATOMY TO CAUSE THE UNUSUAL BITE MARKS

I'VE HEARD ABOUT.

ANOTHER THING THAT'S SOMETIMES KNOWN AS A DEVIL FISH

IS THE KRAKEN.

THIS IS A MYTHICAL, GIANT SQUID

THAT LIVES DEEP DOWN IN THE OCEAN.

UM, AND THEY SAY IT COMES UP

AND IT DRAGS DOWN SHIPS.

THESE HIGHLY INTELLIGENT BEASTS,

ARMED WITH BARBED TENTACLES, ARE CREATURES OF MYTHOLOGY.

BUT I WONDER IF THERE'S A REAL CREATURE

THAT MIGHT HAVE INSPIRED THIS MYTH.

[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

I'VE TRACKED DOWN THE ADDRESS GIVEN TO ME BY THE MEN

AT THE SHARK GRAVEYARD.

IT'S THE HOME OF A FISHERMAN NAMED RAFAEL.

¿USTED, UH, ES, UH, PESCADOR DE DIABLO ROJO?

-Sí, Sí. -HMM.

Wade: HE SAYS THAT WHEN THE RED DEVILS

FIRST APPEARED IN THESE WATERS,

HE DECIDED TO TRY FISHING FOR THEM.

BUT IT WAS NO EASY MISSION.

¿ESTE DIABLO ROJO, UH, ES UN ANIMAL, UH, PELIGROSO?

Sí... [ SPEAKS SPANISH ]

NOW HE GREW UP HERE. YOU KNOW, HE'S SEEN SHARKS.

HE'S SWUM WITH SHARKS, UH, NO PROBLEM AT ALL.

BUT HE'S TELLING ME THAT, THIS ANIMAL, THE DIABLO ROJO,

IS EXTREMELY, UH, DANGEROUS.

[ SPEAKS SPANISH ]

HE TELLS ME ABOUT ONE OF HIS EARLY DEVIL-HUNTING TRIPS

AS A YOUNG MAN.

IT'S 11:00 AT NIGHT.

HE'S GOT HIS CHILDREN WITH HIM IN A BOAT.

HE LOSES HIS FISHING LURE.

BUT CLOSE TO WHERE HE'S ANCHORED,

THERE'S ANOTHER BOAT WITH A SPARE LURE.

RATHER THAN ACTUALLY PADDLE TO THE OTHER BOAT,

HE JUST JUMPED IN THE WATER.

HE KNEW THERE WERE RED DEVILS DOWN THERE,

BUT HE DIDN'T THINK THEY WOULD HURT HIM.

HE WAS WRONG.

THEY ATTACKED HIM FROM EVERY DIRECTION.

HE FELT THE FLESH TEARING FROM HIS STOMACH AND NECK

AS THEY STARTED TO DRAG HIM DOWN.

HIS CHILDREN MANAGED TO PULL HIM BACK

INTO THE BOAT, COVERED IN BLOOD.

HE SAID IF HE HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WATER,

THAT WOULD'VE BEEN IT. HE'D HAVE BEEN FINISHED.

THERE WAS MANY, UM, YOU KNOW, NO -- NO WAY OF GIVING A NUMBER.

BUT HE SAYS THIS IS --

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, WHEN YOU -- WHEN YOU HOOK ONE,

AND YOU BRING IT INTO THE BOAT, THEY'LL BECOME CANNIBALISTIC.

UH, IF ONE IS STRUGGLING ON A LINE,

OTHERS WILL COME IN AND DEVOUR THAT.

HE SAYS IT'S ALMOST LIKE, UH, A PIRANHA FEEDING FRENZY.

NOW THE THING ABOUT PIRANHAS, FROM MY EXPERIENCE,

IS IF A PIRANHA BITES YOU,

THEY LEAVE A VERY CLEAR SIGNATURE.

SO I'M -- I'M JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW,

IF HE'S GOT, UM, ANY MEMENTOS OF THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT.

[ SPEAKS SPANISH ]

-[ SPEAKS SPANISH ] -MUCHOS. OKAY.

THE ATTACK HAPPENED MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO,

BUT HE STILL HAS SCARS.

[ SPEAKS SPANISH ]

THIS ONE REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING I'VE SEEN BEFORE.

THE ONLY THING THAT I'VE SEEN, IN MY EXPERIENCE,

THAT'S ANYTHING LIKE THAT, UH, IS CAUSED BY A PUFFERFISH.

RAFAEL'S SCAR IS TOO BIG TO BE CAUSED

BY THE BEAK OF A PUFFERFISH.

BUT IT IS A VERY UNUSUAL WOUND,

WHICH CERTAINLY TIES IN

WITH THE OTHER ATTACK STORIES I'VE HEARD.

THE OTHER SEA CREATURE THAT HAS A BEAK IS A SQUID.

¿QUE TIPO DE -- DE ANIMAL? ¿UH, TIENE TENTáCULOS?

I ASK WHETHER THIS ANIMAL HAS TENTACLES.

-Sí, Sí. -¿ES UNA...

CALAMAR, CALAMAR, DIABLO ROJO.

HE CONFIRMS. IT'S A SQUID.

HE GAVE ME A WEIGHT, SOMETHING LIKE 70 OR 80 POUNDS.

THAT'S GOT TO BE AN ANIMAL, I DON'T KNOW, 4, 5 FOOT LONG.

BUT FROM WHAT HE'S SAYING, YOU KNOW,

WE'RE NOT TALKING SOLITARY ANIMALS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SQUID FEEDING FRENZY.

I'VE NEVER FISHED FOR SQUID BEFORE

AND I'M EAGER TO FIND OUT HOW TO DO IT.

WHEN HE SHOWS ME THE LURE HE USES,

IT LOOKS MORE LIKE

AN INSTRUMENT OF MEDIEVAL TORTURE

THAN ANYTHING I'VE EVER PUT ON A LINE.

AND THIS IS THE LURE. THIS IS THE JIG.

HE SAYS THIS IS LUMINOUS.

THE SQUID ARE ATTRACTED TO THE GLOW,

AND THEIR TENTACLES BECOME CAUGHT ON THE SPIKES.

THESE MARKS HERE ARE CAUSED BY THE --

THE BEAK OF THE -- OF THE SQUID.

HE -- HE MAKES THESE UP HIMSELF.

HE -- HE SORTA MAKES THEM FROM BITS OF OTHER LURES.

AND HE SAYS YOU OFTEN FISH WITH THESE VERY DEEP,

UM, GETTING ON FOR 1,000 FEET.

I ASK HIM IF HE CAN TAKE ME HUNTING FOR THESE DEVILS,

BUT HE SAYS I'M A FEW YEARS TOO LATE.

-[ SPEAKING SPANISH ] -AS SUDDENLY

AS THESE LARGE, PREDATORY SQUID INVADED THESE WATERS,

THEY HAVE NOW MYSTERIOUSLY MOVED ON.

THERE'S SOMETHING PARTICULARLY CHILLING

ABOUT A BEAST THAT IS HERE ONE MINUTE

AND GONE THE NEXT.

BUT NOW THAT RAFAEL HAS HELPED ME IDENTIFY

THESE ELUSIVE PACK HUNTERS,

I'M MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER TO TRACK THEM DOWN.

THERE ARE MANY SPECIES OF SQUID,

BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE THAT MATCHES THE SIZE

THAT RAFAEL DESCRIBED OF 4 OR 5 FEET --

THE HUMBOLDT SQUID.

THEY'RE CERTAINLY THE RIGHT COLOR

TO BE CALLED A RED DEVIL.

AND THEY HAVE A BEAK MADE OF ONE OF

THE HARDEST NATURAL SUBSTANCES ON THE PLANET,

WITH A BITE FORCE OF A LION.

AND I COME ACROSS STORIES OF HUMBOLDT SQUID ATTACKING DIVERS

THAT ADD TO MY SUSPICIONS

THAT THESE ARE THE ANIMALS I'M LOOKING FOR.

ANOTHER ONE CAME RIGHT UP BEHIND ME, GRABBED MY HAND

AND YANKED BACK SO HARD

THAT IT DISLOCATED MY RIGHT SHOULDER.

THAT'S HOW BAD THESE SQUID CAN BE.

Wade: THERE ARE INCIDENCES OF HUMBOLDT SQUID ATTACKS

IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST.

IT WAS SO TERRIFYING BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST...

THE THOUGHT OF BEING EATING BY SOMETHING

IS JUST, LIKE, SOMETHING OUT OF A HORROR MOVIE.

Wade: AND HUNDREDS OF HUMBOLDT SQUIDS SIGHTINGS

FROM CALIFORNIA TO ALASKA.

BUT AS IN MEXICO,

THE SQUID SEEM TO DISAPPEAR AS QUICKLY AS THEY ARRIVE.

WITH THESE ANIMALS HAVING

SUCH A VAST AND SEEMINGLY RANDOM TERRITORY,

PINNING THEM DOWN WON'T BE EASY.

THE REASON THEY'RE CALLED HUMBOLDT SQUID

IS BECAUSE THEY COME FROM THE HUMBOLDT CURRENT,

WHICH IS WAY DOWN HERE IN SOUTH AMERICA.

IT RUNS ALONG THE COAST OF CHILE AND PERU.

AND I'VE JUST COME ACROSS SOME PICTURES

OF SOME VERY LARGE HUMBOLDT SQUID

FROM A PLACE CALLED PAITA IN PERU.

SO I THINK I REALLY HAVE TO CHECK THIS PLACE OUT.

IT LOOKS LIKE THESE ALIEN ANIMALS

ARE BEING CAUGHT IN PERU RIGHT NOW.

FINALLY, I FEEL LIKE I'M CLOSING IN

ON THE NOTORIOUS DIABLO ROJO.

HERE WE GO.

**

**

Wade: I'M ON THE HUNT FOR A NOTORIOUS SEA CREATURE

THAT'S CAPABLE OF INFLICTING HORRIFIC WOUNDS.

[ MAN GRUNTING ]

I'VE NARROWED MY SEARCH TO A BEAST SO TERRIBLE

THAT MEXICAN FISHERMEN NAMED IT THE "RED DEVIL,"

WHICH I'VE IDENTIFIED AS THE HUMBOLDT SQUID.

THESE ULTRA-PREDATORY SQUID MOVE LIKE A PLAGUE.

I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NOW LEFT MEXICO,

BUT I'VE TRACED THEM 3,000 MILES SOUTH

TO THEIR HOME TERRITORY --

THE HUMBOLDT CURRENT

OFF THE PACIFIC COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA.

**

I'VE COME TO A REMOTE PERUVIAN FISHING TOWN

CALLED PAITA, A BUSTLING PORT

AND A FAR CRY FROM THE SMALL-SCALE FISHING INDUSTRY

I LEFT BEHIND IN MEXICO.

CLEARLY, SQUID HAVE MADE A MARK HERE.

**

¿UH, SEÑORA, ESTE PARA QUé?

Woman: CALAMAR GIGANTE.

¿CALAMAR GIGANTE?

RIGHT, THIS IS A SERIOUS SQUID LURE.

IT'S DEFINITELY A SQUID LURE, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

BUT IT'S VERY HEAVY DUTY.

MUCH, UH, MORE ROBUST THAN THE ONE I SAW IN MEXICO.

I MEAN, THESE ARE MADE OUT OF THICK STEEL.

IT'S NOT JUST WIRE.

AND I'M GUESSING THAT'S...

WELL...

THIS IS DESIGNED FOR S-- ANIMALS OF A SERIOUS SIZE.

I NEED TO GET FISHING.

THE FISHING INDUSTRY HERE

IS ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE WORLD,

DATING BACK TO BEFORE THE INCAS.

HOLA. UH, BUENAS -- BUENAS -- BUENAS TARDES.

WITH OVER 700 MARINE SPECIES, PERU IS STILL

ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING FISHING NATIONS.

YEAH. THERE'S A LOT OF BOATS HERE.

THIS REALLY, YOU KNOW, TAKES YOU BACK.

YOU JUST DON'T SEE THIS KIND OF PLACE AT ALL

VERY MUCH IN THE WORLD NOW.

¿ESTE?

I'M TAKEN TO A COMMERCIAL SQUID FISHING VESSEL,

WHOSE SEASONED CREW IS OUT ON THESE WATERS YEAR-ROUND.

MY CHANCES OF TRACKING DOWN HUMBOLDT SQUID

ARE LOOKING GOOD.

**

WE HEAD OUT INTO THE VAST PACIFIC OCEAN.

TO FIND THE SQUID, WE NEED DEEP WATER,

AND WE HAVE TO TRAVEL FOR DAYS.

AS ALL SIGNS OF LAND DISAPPEAR,

I RAPIDLY LOSE MY SENSE OF DIRECTION.

IT BECOMES SICKENINGLY APPARENT

THAT THIS IS A FAR CRY

FROM THE RIVERS AND LAKES THAT I'M USED TO.

WE'VE ALL BEEN ILL ON THIS TRIP,

UH, NOT JUST THE FILM CREW.

THE, YOU KNOW, THE BOAT CREW AS WELL.

I THOUGHT THE CAPTAIN HAD BEEN OKAY.

APPARENTLY THE CAPTAIN'S BEEN ILL.

AS THE DAYS AND NIGHTS BLUR, WE CONTINUE FURTHER OUT TO SEA,

AND THERE'S NO RESPITE.

THE RELENTLESS SWAY OF THE BOAT IS INESCAPABLE.

AS SOON AS YOU ACTUALLY GO INSIDE,

YOU DON'T HAVE THAT REFERENCE POINT OF THE HORIZON.

UNLESS YOU SHUT YOUR EYES,

YEAH, YOU START FEELING ILL VERY QUICKLY.

EVEN THE SEA-HARDENED FISHERMEN WHO DO THIS FOR A LIVING

STRUGGLE WITH THE TORTUROUS PITCH OF THE BOAT.

BUT FOR THESE MEN TO GO TO SUCH EFFORTS

TO FIND THESE SQUID,

THE CATCH MUST BE WORTH THE STRUGGLE TO GET HERE.

FINALLY, AFTER WHAT SEEMS LIKE AN ENDLESS JOURNEY,

I'M TOLD WE'RE FLOATING ABOVE SQUID TERRITORY.

THERE'S NO WAY OF REACHING THE BOTTOM,

SO WE DEPLOY A DRIFT ANCHOR TO STEADY THE BOAT,

AND WE GET OUR LINES OUT.

HERE WE GO.

THE TECHNIQUE IS BASIC --

JUST HAND LINES AND THAT VICIOUS JIG

COATED IN PHOSPHORESCENT PAINT SO IT GLOWS IN THE DARK DEPTHS.

THIS GHOSTLY LIGHT, COMBINED WITH A SCRAP OF DEAD FISH

AND THE JIG'S MOVEMENT,

SHOULD TRIGGER THE SQUIDS' NATURAL PREDATORY INSTINCT.

I'M SLIGHTLY, UM, CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIDE OF THE BOAT HERE.

I MEAN, NO DOUBT IT'S ALL IN THE NAME OF EFFICIENCY

SO YOU CAN PULL SQUID OVER EASILY, BUT, UM,

THAT'S ACTUALLY LOWER THAN MY KNEE.

SO I'M THINKING IF THE BOAT'S TIPPING A BIT,

IF THE SURFACE IS SLIPPERY, I CAN IMAGINE

IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO GO OVER THE SIDE.

WHEN RAFAEL, THE FISHERMAN I MET IN MEXICO,

GOT IN THE WATER WITH SQUID,

IT WAS ONLY SECONDS BEFORE THEY ATTACKED.

AND THE FISHERMEN HERE WARN ME THAT WHEN MEN FALL OVERBOARD,

THE SQUID CONVERGE AND DRAG THEM DOWN.

AND GENERALLY, THEY'RE NOT SEEN AGAIN.

HERE WE GO.

AH.

WHOA!

**

**

Wade: I'M IN PERU, HOPING TO CATCH A HUMBOLDT SQUID,

TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS, IN FACT,

CAPABLE OF ATTACKING AND KILLING FISHERMEN.

HERE WE GO.

AFTER 3 LONG DAYS OUT AT SEA,

I FINALLY HAVE SOMETHING BIG ON THE END OF MY LINE.

I THINK I CAN SEE IT.

THERE IT IS.

THIS FEELS BIG.

OKAY.

THE WRITHING PREDATOR FIRES INK AS A DEFENSE MECHANISM.

OKAY. COME HERE, BOY. HERE WE GO.

IT'S JUST FLASHING DIFFERENT COLORS HERE.

OUT OF THE WATER, THIS SQUID'S COLOR

FLASHES FROM A DEVIL-LIKE RED TO INKY BLACK.

SO THIS THE BEAST.

THIS IS A HUMBOLDT SQUID.

UH, AND JUST WHAT A WEIRD ANIMAL IT IS.

YOU HAVE THE MOUTH IN THE MIDDLE THERE

SURROUNDED BY TENTACLES.

AND THEN INSIDE THERE, YOU CAN SEE THE BEAK.

I HAVE NO DOUBT

THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE SCAR ON RAFAEL'S SHOULDER

AND IS THE BRUTAL WEAPON BEHIND THE OTHER UNUSUAL WOUNDS

I HEARD ABOUT.

IT'S THE KEY PIECE OF EVIDENCE

THAT TIES ALL MY STORIES TOGETHER.

AND THEY HAVE MORE WEIRD ANATOMY.

THIS IS THE SIPHON.

THIS IS WHAT IT SQUIRTS INK OUT OF.

THESE BIZARRE-LOOKING PREDATORS

ARE LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A HORROR MOVIE,

AN ALIEN ANIMAL TOTALLY UNLIKE ANY FISH

I HAVE EVER CAUGHT.

QUITE AN IMPRESSIVE BEAST. GOING BACK.

THIS SQUID IS A DECENT SIZE,

BUT I'M TOLD THEY GROW TWICE AS LONG,

PERHAPS EIGHT TIMES THE WEIGHT.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING EVEN MORE TERRIFYING ABOUT THESE ANIMALS.

WITHIN SECONDS, ANOTHER LINE GOES.

AND THEY KEEP COMING.

AH. HERE WE GO.

COMING OUT OF THERE.

OI!

LUCKILY THAT WASN'T INK.

UGH!

THERE'S LOTS DOWN HERE.

THESE CANNIBALISTIC DEVILS RISE FROM THE DEPTHS

TO ATTACK OTHER SQUID STRUGGLING ON THE FISHING JIGS.

I'M TOLD THEY HUNT IN PACKS OF MORE THAN 1,000.

THEN, AS SUDDENLY AS THEY FIRST APPEARED...

...THEY'RE GONE.

BUT I'M LEFT IN NO DOUBT

THAT THESE ARE THE VERY SAME DIABLO ROJO

THAT INVADED MEXICO.

AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY THE ANIMAL

THAT HAS BEEN ATTACKING DIVERS IN THE U.S.

GRABBED MY HAND AND THEN YANKED IT BACK...

Wade: BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FIVE DEAD BODIES

THAT STARTED THIS WHOLE INVESTIGATION?

SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO TRACK DOWN THE MARINE BIOLOGIST

OR FIND ANY HARD EVIDENCE,

I NOW SUSPECT THAT STORY WAS A HOAX.

BUT I THINK THIS IS A RARE CASE

WHERE REALITY IS WORSE THAN FICTION.

ALTHOUGH THE STORY THAT LAUNCHED ME

ON THIS INVESTIGATION TURNED OUT TO BE MADE UP,

THE CREATURE THAT I FOUND IN THE END...WELL,

IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST COULDN'T MAKE UP.

IT IS A LITTLE TOO EASY

TO IMAGINE FALLING INTO THE WATER,

TWO OR THREE OF THEM GRAB HOLD OF YOU

AND TAKE YOU DOWN TO THE DEPTHS.

ANYONE KILLED BY HUMBOLDT SQUID WOULDN'T WASH UP ON A BEACH.

THEY WOULD DISAPPEAR WITHOUT A TRACE.

FOR ME, THE THING THAT'S REALLY CREEPY ABOUT THEM IS THE FACT

THAT THEY'RE HERE ONE MINUTE, GONE THE NEXT,

AND THEY CAN JUST POP UP SOMEWHERE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

THIS IS A SPECIES

THAT TRAVELED 3,000 MILES FROM PERU TO MEXICO.

WHERE IS IT GOING TO TURN UP NEXT?

WHO KNOWS? IT MIGHT BE COMING TO A BEACH NEAR YOU.

**