Opakapaka is also known as the Hawaiian pink snapper, although its skin is light brown. Found at depths between 180 and 600 feet, fish caught over hard bottoms have brighter skin colors than those caught over soft bottoms.

When properly cared for, opakapaka has a long shelf life. It has a clear, light pink flesh with a delicate flavor that has earned it the reputation as Hawaii’s premium snapper. Fish caught during the winter months tend to have a higher fat content than those caught in the summer, and opakapaka yields the best sashimi during the winter.

Opakapaka range in size from 1 to 18 pounds. It grows larger in the Hawaiian Islands than anywhere else in the South Pacific. Opakapaka are harvested exclusively with vertical hook-and-line gear.