Opakapaka

Opakapaka Flavor Profile

Opakapaka Flavor Scale

Flavor
Oil
Texture

Opakapaka has lean, light pink flesh with a translucent sheen and firm texture. It has a clean, delicate, sweet flavor and a reputation of being Hawaii’s premium snapper. It is often used as sashimi and fish caught during the winter months are better for this application due to a higher fat content in the flesh during the winter months than fish which are caught in the summer.

Typical Cooking Methods

Alternate Names

Crimson Snapper, Hawaiian Pink Snapper, King Snapper, Rosy Snapper (Australian Name Standard AS5300 SSA), Vivaneau (French), Schnapper (German), Lutiano (Italian), Huachinango (Spanish), Kinme Himedai; Ohimedai (Japanese).

Description (Pristipomoides filamentosus) The color of Opakapak varies from brownish to lavender or reddish-purple, it can grow up to about 18 pounds, but average market weights are between 3 – 12 pounds. Maximum lifespan is about 18 years.
photo by NOAA	photo by www.honolulufish.com

Fresh Opakapaka Availability

Fresh seafood availability chart: green areas show peak availability, light green show limited availability, gray indicates not available fresh.

Opakapaka Butchering Yield Percentage to Fillets

Whole Opakapaka in the Round (Head/On ungutted) yield about 45% to Skin/On fillets.
Whole Head/On gutted 10 Lb & Up Opakapaka yield about 44% to Skin/On fillets.
Whole Head/On gutted 10 Lb & Down Opakapaka yield about 38% to Skin/On fillets.

Range & Habitat

AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF

Opakapaka are found throughout the tropical Pacific at depths between 180 and 600 feet. The largest fish are caught around the Hawaiian Islands. Opakapaka which inhabit areas with rocky bottoms have brighter colored skin than those which inhabit sandy bottoms.

Typical Wholesale Products

Whole, Fillets

Opakapaka Sustainability Information

Name	Alternate Names	Catch Method	Catch Region	Seafood Watch	Ocean Wise	Sea Choice	Mercury Concerns
Opakapaka	Crimson Snapper, Hawaiian Pink Snapper	Wild, Hook & Line, Handline	US Hawaii				n/a
Disclaimer: The sustainability info above is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, each program randomly updates their information without our knowledge. We therefore recommend that you verify the current accuracy of this information.
= Best Choice/Recommended       = Good Alternative       = Avoid/Not Recommended							Updated August 2013

There isn’t sufficient information on the life cycle of Opakapaka to determine its population and reproduction rate compared to its catch rate. For this reason it is rated “good alternative” by the Seafood Watch Program. Fish from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are considered more sustainable than fish from the Main Island. Opakapaka are caught primarily by vertical hook-and-line gear which has minimal impact upon the habitat and very low bycatch.

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