Crimson jobfish (opakapaka, pink snapper)

A pink-lavender snapper with a forked tail, big eyes, a slim body, faint blue-yellow lines on the head and long filaments on the last rays of the dorsal and anal fins. Hawaii's most famous bottomfish.

2–8 lb.

About 3 ft and 18 lb (8.2 kg).

Small fish, shrimp, crabs, squid and plankton.

Schools over rocky slopes and pinnacles, moving up in the water at night to feed. Can live over 40 years.

Found from Hawaii, Guam & Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, South Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Indonesia (Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Sulawesi), Japan & South Korea, East Africa & Indian Ocean Islands and Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef. Deep rocky slopes and banks around Pacific and Indian Ocean islands; Penguin Bank and other Hawaii banks are classic.

Deep rocky slopes and banks around Pacific and Indian Ocean islands; Penguin Bank and other Hawaii banks are classic.

130–1,300 ft; mostly 300–600 ft.

300–600 ft.

All year; Hawaii's winter holiday season is when demand is highest.

Day and night; the hours around dawn are good.

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 cut fish on multi-hook bottom rigs with a chum bag.

Slow-pitch jigs and small glow lures.

Deep-drop rod with an electric or large conventional reel.

Size 1/0–4/0 circle hooks on dropper loops.

50–80 lb braid.

60–80 lb monofilament with 2–5 lb sinkers.

Anchor or drift on the slope with a chum bag at the bottom and a multi-hook rig, then wind fish up steadily.

Mark the exact ledge on GPS; opakapaka hold to very small spots.

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: delicate, sweet and moist. Steamed whole Chinese style, sashimi or baked.

Deep-drop fishing far offshore: carry safety gear, and watch for sharks taking fish on the way up.

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.

Fish from deep water can't be released; stop when you have enough.