Opah Fishing Guide

Opah (Lampris guttatus) are one of the most visually spectacular fish in the ocean — a large, circular, deep-water species with vivid crimson-orange fins, white spots on silver flanks, and bright orange-red flesh that has made them increasingly prized by chefs and anglers alike. Opah made news in 2015 when researchers confirmed they are the world's first fully warm-blooded fish, maintaining elevated body temperature throughout their entire body via a countercurrent heat exchange system — an adaptation that powers their active pursuit of prey in cold, deep water. In Southern California and Hawaii, opah are occasionally caught by offshore anglers targeting tuna, or landed as bycatch on commercial longlines. Growing sportfishing interest has followed their rising profile at upscale fish markets, where their multiple distinct cuts command premium prices.

Opah is a saltwater species.

Habitat

Opah are found in tropical to temperate ocean waters worldwide, primarily in the mesopelagic zone from about 150 to 1,500 feet deep, far offshore over open ocean. They are most frequently encountered in the California Current system off the West Coast, particularly when warm-water conditions push closer to shore. They are not associated with bottom structure and spend their lives in open ocean mid-water depths far from the coast.

Diet

Opah feed primarily on squid, small fish, and crustaceans in the deep mesopelagic zone. They are active pursuit predators — unusual for deep-water fish — enabled by their warm-body physiology. Their flexible, muscular pectoral fins allow sustained swimming at depths that would slow cold-bodied predators, and they are thought to be significant predators of lanternfish and other deep scattering layer organisms.

Fishing Techniques

• Deep vertical jigging with heavy metal jigs
• Slow pitch jigging at depth
• Deep-dropping rigged squid on electric reel
• Trolling deep-diving lures on long lines
• Slow-jigging at intermediate depths over deep banks

Best Seasons

Summer, Fall

Size & Records

Average weight: 100 lbs. World record: 303 lbs (Huntington Beach, California, USA (2015)).