Deepwater red snapper (onaga, ruby snapper)

A brilliant ruby-red snapper with very big eyes, a silver-pink belly and a deeply forked tail with long, thin top and bottom lobes (longest in big fish). Cousin of the Caribbean's queen snapper (cachucho).

4–15 lb.

About 4 ft and over 30 lb.

Fish, squid and shrimp.

Lives in small groups over steep, rocky deep slopes and pinnacles.

Found from Hawaii, Guam & Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, South Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea, Japan & South Korea, East Africa & Indian Ocean Islands and Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef. Deep rocky slopes of Pacific and Indian Ocean islands; one of Hawaii's "Deep 7".

Deep rocky slopes of Pacific and Indian Ocean islands; one of Hawaii's "Deep 7".

300–1,300 ft; mostly 600–1,000 ft.

600–1,000 ft.

All year.

Day and night.

Tides matter less offshore; look for current lines, temperature breaks and bait. Around reefs and seamounts, the tide change turns the fish on.

Calm to moderate seas; light wind against the current stirs up bait. Watch for storms and cyclone season.

Squid and fish strips on multi-hook rigs with a chum bag.

Glow-in-the-dark deep-drop lures and slow jigs.

Deep-drop rod and electric reel.

5/0–8/0 circle hooks.

65–100 lb braid.

80–100 lb monofilament with heavy sinkers and a light.

Drift or anchor on deep pinnacles and slopes, send a chum bag and baited rig to the bottom and wind up steadily.

Onaga hold slightly deeper than opakapaka on the same slope; fish the deeper edge.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Excellent: Hawaii's prized sashimi and holiday fish; also steamed whole.

Deep-drop fishing far offshore: carry safety gear and an EPIRB.

Hawaii's "Deep 7" bottomfish (onaga, ehu, opakapaka, kalekale, gindai, lehi and hapu'upu'u) need a state bottomfish registration even for recreational fishing, with a low daily bag limit, and the fishery can close when the yearly catch limit is reached; some areas are Bottomfish Restricted Fishing Areas. Guam, the Marianas and American Samoa have their own rules. Check current rules. Rules differ by island: Hawaii, Guam, the Northern Marianas and American Samoa need no license for recreational saltwater fishing, but size and bag limits, closed seasons and marine preserves apply; other Pacific nations require permits, and many reefs belong to villages, so ask permission.

Deep fish can't be released alive; take only what you need.