Pacific angel sharks look a lot like their cousins, the rays and skates, but they have the distinct anatomy of true sharks with forward facing mouths and gill slits that wrap around their heads. They range on the Pacific from southeast Alaska to Baja Mexico, and also from Peru to Southern Chile. Angel sharks are ambush predators, spending most of their time buried in sand concealed by their flat shapes and gray backs, and feed on small fish and mollusks. They grow to lengths of five feet. Until 1978, only artisanal fishermen brought angel sharks to the table, but a California fish processor began promoting them as a tasty new seafood delicacy. The catch reached a million pounds by 1986 and then quickly declined, triggering size and gear restrictions off California.