Like a fish out of water

I was a little surprised to encounter this fish cast ashore on the beach tonight:

 

A live Rock Greenling (Hexagrammos lagocephalus)!  It was ~1 foot (~30 cm) long.  I took a few quick pictures and then guided it back into the ocean.  Perhaps the building swell caught it by surprise and a powerful surge washed it up onto the sand.

Check out the amazing colors:

 

 

Such a handsome fish!