148-Pound Opah Hooked Off South Florida Waters
Fundacion Rapala – On June 15, Father’s Day turned extraordinary for a group of anglers off Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While deep-sea fishing for swordfish, they landed an incredibly rare 148-pound opah, also known as a moonfish. The team caught it at a depth of 1,800 feet, about 17 miles offshore near Port Everglades.
The opah stretched 53 inches in length and 47.5 inches in width. Though it fell short of the world record (180 pounds, 12 ounces), its rarity along the Atlantic coast made it a remarkable catch.
A First for the Captain
“I’ve done this for 23 years, and I’ve never seen one caught here,” said Capt. Richard Fairbanks of Family Tradition Sportfishing. He had only seen opah at fish markets in Hawaii—never on his own boat.
That’s how rare they are in Florida. In fact, Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission doesn’t even track the species. When crew member Rex Lane called to report it, officials told him there’s no category for opah—only a handful have ever been caught in the state.
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What Makes Opah So Unique?
Opah are odd-looking, brilliantly colored fish more common in the Pacific Ocean. Anglers off California and Mexico occasionally catch them while targeting other fish. Commercial longliners near Hawaii also bring them in as bycatch when hunting bigeye tuna or swordfish.
But even in those waters, opah remain special.
They’re also unique in the animal kingdom. Opah are the only known fully warm-blooded fish. Unlike tuna or sharks, which regulate only parts of their body temperature, opah maintain full-body heat. Their gills circulate warm blood from their core to warm up blood returning from the cold depths.
The Long Wait Before the Wild Catch
On Fairbanks’ 39-foot Yellowfin, Freebird, the crew had been swordfishing for hours. They dropped bait—mahi bellies on colorful skirts—to a depth of 1,500 feet. Two rods were in use: a tip rod and a buoy rod. Both were rigged with 100-pound braid, 300-pound mono leaders, and 10-pound sinkers.
Joining the trip were Laurel David, a seasoned commercial swordfisher; Rex Lane, who was on his first swordfishing trip; and anglers Austin Buckingham and Mike. After six hours with little action, Fairbanks was ready to switch tactics and start trolling again.
But at 3:30 p.m., everything changed.
Lane, watching the buoy from the tower, suddenly saw it dive underwater and shoot to the right.
“The buoy’s gone!” he shouted.
The Fight Begins
For the next 30 to 45 minutes, the crew believed they had hooked a large swordfish. The fish fought hard, mimicking the moves of a 200- to 250-pound swordfish. But as it neared the boat, it began spinning in the water—a behavior known as pinwheeling.
Then they saw it. A flash of bright color and a round shape. It wasn’t a swordfish.
“That’s an opah!” Fairbanks screamed.
Lane added, “We were freaking out! No one expected this.”
Colors Straight Out of a Dream
The fish glowed in shades no camera could fully capture. “It looked like something out of a fantasy,” said Fairbanks. “Fluorescent orange body, fire-red fins, and a purple head.”
Lane echoed the awe. “I’ve worked on boats across the world. This one blew everything else away.”
How Does Opah Taste?
Unlike most fish, opah offers several types of meat—each with its own taste and texture. The crew took the fish to Captain Clay and Sons Seafood Market, where expert fishmonger Reed Brand cut it into portions.
“It’s like nothing else,” Fairbanks said. “Some cuts taste like beef. Others are perfect as sashimi.”
Lane described the variety. “One piece looked like mahi. Another like tuna. A third resembled salmon, bright orange. I’ve got four different cuts in my fridge, and they look like they came from four different fish.”
Commemorating the Catch
All the anglers plan to have replica mounts made of their extraordinary catch, thanks to Austin Buckingham. For this crew, what started as a routine fishing trip turned into a legendary adventure—one they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.