Finnian the Tiger Rockfish (Washed Ashore)

Bandon, Oregon, United States

Animals and creatures

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Listed, not yet checked · Oct 2026

This Big Thing is recorded as still being here.

Finnian is a tiger rockfish sculpture, about 16 feet long and 10 feet high, built from marine debris by the Washed Ashore project. It arrived at the Port of Bandon, Oregon, in April 2022 and is described by the Port as permanently housed at the Bandon Fisheries Building.

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Finnian the Tiger Rockfish (Washed Ashore)

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Site-level location · 43.1197° N, 124.4119° W

FIELD GUIDE

The story

A fish that grows to about two feet has been scaled up to 16, and it is built from rubbish collected on Oregon's beaches.

Finnian the Tiger Rockfish is a Washed Ashore sculpture at the Port of Bandon. NBC16 reported on April 26, 2022 that it travelled from Coos Bay to Bandon that day and measured 16 feet long and 10 feet high, calling it Washed Ashore's latest and largest sculpture. Washed Ashore, based on the southern Oregon coast, builds large sea creatures from marine debris; Visit the Oregon Coast reported in 2023 that since 2010 it has drawn thousands of volunteers and made more than 70 sculptures.

Lead artist Steve Wright told NBC16 that Finnian has a stainless steel frame, wire and screws, with debris found on local beaches added on top: "toothbrushes and shotgun shells" among it. It took three months to build. Gallery manager Cameron McCrew said it was finished with a Travel Oregon grant, and the Port says it was partially commissioned through that grant.

Bandon High School students were invited to suggest names. NBC16 said the top student idea, "Swim Shady", was the sculpture's unofficial nickname, with the official name to be announced on May 4 after a board vote; the Port now introduces it as Finnian and thanks the students for taking part.

The Port says tiger rockfish are named for their striped appearance, with five black or red bars along the body and spiky ridges on the head. It gives their maximum length as about two feet, found in water roughly 209 to 1,000 feet deep off Oregon, and notes that rockfish species are at risk from climate change.

The Port describes the Bandon Fisheries Building as Finnian's permanent home, and Washed Ashore's current visitor page invites people to take a selfie with Finnian at the Port of Bandon.

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PRACTICAL

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WHAT TO EXPECT

Finnian is displayed at the Port of Bandon, where Washed Ashore invites visitors to take a selfie with it. Washed Ashore also runs a shop and education area, Bandon's Fabulous Finds, at 250 1st St SW, which lists hours of Monday to Tuesday 7am to 2pm and Wednesday to Sunday 7am to 4pm; check before visiting.

ACCESS

At the Port of Bandon, where the Port describes the Bandon Fisheries Building as the sculpture's permanent home. Washed Ashore invites visitors to photograph it there. Check Washed Ashore or the Port for viewing arrangements.

COMMUNITY