Photos of "penis fish" have surfaced online - and the sight of the pink-ish, pulsing creature has prompted some very mixed reactions.

Following heavy storms in northern California, thousands of the fish, also called 'fat innkeeper worms', surfaced along a beach about 80km north of San Francisco, according to Bay Nature.

Watch the video above

The species of fish usually reside under sand.

But recent storms have swept away layers, leaving them visible to beachgoers.

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In South Korea, the fish are referred to as gaebul, and in Chinese cuisine they are considered a delicacy.

On December 12, the fish prompted a confused reaction from people online.

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"I'm done. Never walking on a beach again, ever!" one Instagram user commented.

"Please for the love of God, stop showing me the penis fish," another Tweeted.

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Others celebrated the unusual-shaped fish.

"This is exactly the distraction I need right now! Nature for the win," one wrote on Twitter.

"Ok I would really like to have a penis fish," another said.

Photos of the fish on the Californian beach have gone viral.