Opah (Moonfish)

Lampris Requis

 

Opah has only recently become a commercially viable fish in Hawaii. Opah are caught while longlining for other fish, so the catch is generally very small. Fishermen have always kept the Opah that they caught, but would often give them as gifts, as they believed that they would bring good luck.  Opah are generally caught between April and August, however, they are available in limited supply year round.

Moonfish is named for its large, round profile. Opah is a beautiful fish with a silvery-grey upper body and shades to a rose red dotted with white spots toward the belly. Its fins are crimson. The eyes are large and encircled with gold. 

Most Opah caught in Hawaii range in size from 60-200 pounds. Opah can often be found with other migrating species including billfish and tunas. Because Opah do not school, they are not caught in any quantity. Opah is generally caught on longlines year round. Their peak season is between April – August. 

Opah has four types of flesh, each a distinctive color. The flesh behind the head and along the backbone is an orange color. The belly flesh becomes a pale pink color and is somewhat tough. The cheek meat is a dark red color. All of these cook white. Inside the breastplate is another section of flesh, which is bright ruby red and cooks brown. The flesh of Opah is high in fat making it excellent for raw preparations as well as for grilling.