Crimson Jobfish
Crimson Jobfish
Pristipomoides filamentosus
Also Known As
Opakapaka, Hawaiian pink snapper
Quick Facts
Weight
Up to 18 pounds
Length
17 to 20 inches on average
Lifespan
Up to 43 years
Region
Pacific Islands
Researcher shows off an opakapaka prior to taking fin clips and releasing it during a bottomfish research expedition in the Pacific Islands. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Researcher shows off an opakapaka prior to taking fin clips and releasing it during a bottomfish research expedition in the Pacific Islands. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
About the Species
Crimson jobfish—commonly known as ‘ōpakapaka—is a species of snapper fish found throughout the tropical Pacific Ocean, including American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, and the Northern Mariana Islands. They are one of the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Deep 7 bottomfish and live at depths from 240 to 720 feet. 'Ōpakapaka is a popular and important species for the fishing industry in and around the Pacific Islands region. It is caught year-round and is highly prized for its mild flavor and premium texture.
Population
The population level is unknown, but the stock is contained in 5 bottomfish complexes whose status ranges from overfished to not overfished to unknown.
Fishing Rate
Reduced to end overfishing of the bottomfish complex in American Samoa. At recommended levels for other 4 bottomfish complexes.
Habitat Impacts
Bottomfish fishing operations, typically using weighted lines and baited hooks, do not have adverse impacts to the habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Population Status
- There are five stocks of crimson jobfish within a bottomfish complex in each of American Samoa, Guam, Main Hawaiian Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. According to the most recent stock assessments:
- The population status of the American Samoa Bottomfish Multi-species Complex, which includes crimson jobfish, is overfished and subject to overfishing (2019 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
- The population status of the Guam Bottomfish Multi-species Complex, which includes crimson jobfish, is overfished but not subject to overfishing (2019 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
- The population status of the Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish Multi-species Complex, which includes crimson jobfish, is not overfished and is not subject to overfishing (2021 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
- The population status of the Northern Mariana Islands Bottomfish Multi-species Complex, which includes crimson jobfish, is not overfished and is not subject to overfishing (2019 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
- The population status of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Bottomfish Multi-species Complex, which includes crimson jobfish, is unknown. This stock complex occurs within the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument where commercial fishing is prohibited.
Appearance
- Crimson jobfish have skin that is slightly brown with some brighter colors when caught over hard bottoms.
- Their caudal fin has an orange edge.
- Pectoral fins are brownish or yellow.
- The iris is typically yellow.
Biology
- Crimson jobfish reach sexual maturity around 1.8 years of age.
- Spawning occurs between June and December with a peak in August.
- Large fish reach about 20 lb and 3 feet long.
- They feed on shrimps, squids, and small fishes.
Where They Live
Range
- Crimson jobfish are distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
Habitat
- They inhabit hard bottoms at depths from 40 to 120 fathoms.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council manage crimson jobfish in the United States.
- Managed under Fishery Ecosystem Plans for American Samoa, Hawaii Archipelago, Mariana Archipelago, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas.
- Crimson jobfish are managed as part of multispecies stock complexes under these five ecosystem plans. There are annual catch limits in place for these five stock complexes.
- Commercial fishermen are required to have permits to fish in federal waters and report their catch.
- Recreational fishermen fishing in federal waters for Hawaii bottomfish are required to have permits and record their catch. There are no permit or reporting requirements for recreational fishermen fishing in federal waters for Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands bottomfish, but there are prohibited gear types and harvest techniques. Non-commercial fishing is prohibited within 12 nm of emergent land within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.
- Gear restrictions and operational requirements are in place to minimize bycatch and potential gear conflicts among different fisheries.
- A rebuilding plan was implemented in 2022 with the goal of rebuilding the American Samoa Bottomfish Multi-species Complex, of which crimson jobfish is a member, by 2032.
- A rebuilding plan was implemented in 2022 with the goal of rebuilding the Guam Bottomfish Multi-species Complex, of which crimson jobfish is a member, by 2031.
Harvest
- Fishery:
- Commercial, recreational, and non-commercial fishing in the Pacific Islands encompass fishing communities, habitats, and fishing practices spread over a vast area of nearly 1.5 million square miles of federal waters.
- Non-commercial fishing includes sustenance, subsistence, traditional indigenous, and recreational fishing. Non-commercial fisheries in the Pacific Islands are major economic contributors to coastal communities, are socially and culturally significant, and marine resources are regularly harvested for non-profit distribution within fishing communities and portions of the catch often are sold to defray expenses.
- Crimson jobfish are highly prized for their quality texture and delicate taste.
- Total catch for crimson jobfish in 2020 was approximately 120,000 pounds, according to the NOAA Fisheries fishing landings database.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- Crimson jobfish are caught using weighted hook-and-line that branch into multiple lines with baited hooks.
- A light or chum bag with chopped squid or fish are often suspended as bait above the highest hook.
- Gear is deployed with electric reels in waters 80 m to 400 m deep.
- There is typically little bycatch in this type of targeted fishery.
Scientific Classification
- Crimson jobfish are distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
- They inhabit hard bottoms at depths from 40 to 120 fathoms.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council manage crimson jobfish in the United States.
- Managed under Fishery Ecosystem Plans for American Samoa, Hawaii Archipelago, Mariana Archipelago, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas.
- Crimson jobfish are managed as part of multispecies stock complexes under these five ecosystem plans. There are annual catch limits in place for these five stock complexes.
- Commercial fishermen are required to have permits to fish in federal waters and report their catch.
- Recreational fishermen fishing in federal waters for Hawaii bottomfish are required to have permits and record their catch. There are no permit or reporting requirements for recreational fishermen fishing in federal waters for Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands bottomfish, but there are prohibited gear types and harvest techniques. Non-commercial fishing is prohibited within 12 nm of emergent land within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.
- Gear restrictions and operational requirements are in place to minimize bycatch and potential gear conflicts among different fisheries.
- A rebuilding plan was implemented in 2022 with the goal of rebuilding the American Samoa Bottomfish Multi-species Complex, of which crimson jobfish is a member, by 2032.
- A rebuilding plan was implemented in 2022 with the goal of rebuilding the Guam Bottomfish Multi-species Complex, of which crimson jobfish is a member, by 2031.
Harvest
- Fishery:
- Commercial, recreational, and non-commercial fishing in the Pacific Islands encompass fishing communities, habitats, and fishing practices spread over a vast area of nearly 1.5 million square miles of federal waters.
- Non-commercial fishing includes sustenance, subsistence, traditional indigenous, and recreational fishing. Non-commercial fisheries in the Pacific Islands are major economic contributors to coastal communities, are socially and culturally significant, and marine resources are regularly harvested for non-profit distribution within fishing communities and portions of the catch often are sold to defray expenses.
- Crimson jobfish are highly prized for their quality texture and delicate taste.
- Total catch for crimson jobfish in 2020 was approximately 120,000 pounds, according to the NOAA Fisheries fishing landings database.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- Crimson jobfish are caught using weighted hook-and-line that branch into multiple lines with baited hooks.
- A light or chum bag with chopped squid or fish are often suspended as bait above the highest hook.
- Gear is deployed with electric reels in waters 80 m to 400 m deep.
- There is typically little bycatch in this type of targeted fishery.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Chordata | Class | Actinopterygii | Order | Perciformes | Family | Lutjanidae | Genus | Pristipomoides | Species | filamentosus |
|---|
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Onaga (longtail snapper or flame snapper, Etelis coruscans) can be found in the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Archipelago, and are one of the species that make up "Hawaiʻi’s Deep 7." Photo: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette conducts deepwater camera deployments south of the west Maui mountains in support of the Fall 2022 BFISH survey. Credit: Ben Richards, NOAA Fisheries.
A cooperative research fisher conducts hook-and-line sampling operations in the Alenuihaha channel between Maui and Hawaii island. Photo: Pacific Islands Fisheries Group.
Seafood Facts
Is Crimson Jobfish Sustainable?
U.S. wild-caught crimson jobfish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Availability
Year-round
Source
U.S -wild caught around Hawaii and Pacific Islands Region territories.
Taste
Crimson jobfish has a delicate flavor.
Texture
Crimson jobfish has a firm texture and can be prepared in a variety of ways from steaming smaller-sized fish to fillets for sashimi.
Color
Crimson jobfish has a clear, light pink flesh.
Health Benefits
Crimson jobfish is a great source of lean, healthy protein and rich in vitamins.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1; Serving Weight: 100 g (raw); Calories: 100; Protein: 20.5; Total Fat: 1.34 g; Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 0.285 g; Carbohydrate: 0 g; Total Sugars: 0 g; Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Cholesterol: 37 mg; Selenium: 38.2 mcg; Sodium: 64 mgSeafood News
Kyle Woolever, aquaculture manager at Superior Fresh based in Hixton, WI holds a farm-raised salmon. Credit: ©Sara Stathas
Holdfast Aquaculture co-founder Nate Churches shucking an oyster. Credit: Holdfast Aquaculture
Nasir Kureshy and his father standing near one of their fish ponds at Turtle Creek Aquaculture. Credit: Turtle Creek Aquaculture
Digging for surfclams. Credit: Island Creek Oysters
Science Overview
Crimson jobfish/‘ōpakapaka—one of the Deep 7 bottomfish species—have been collected across the Hawaiian Archipelago (Northwestern and main Hawaiian Islands) since 1978 from several different sources. Samples have been collected aboard NOAA vessels, purchased from commercial fishermen using NOAA funds, and donated by local recreational fishermen. The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center maintains metadata associated with samples, such as location, date, fish length, fish weight, and macroscopic sex identification.
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center is responsible for conducting stock assessments of the Deep 7 bottomfish complex. These assessments are used to determine stock status from which the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council recommends annual fishery catch limits. NOAA researchers monitor the seven species of bottomfish in Hawai‘i by working with local fishermen and deploying underwater camera technology as part of the Bottomfish Fishery-Independent Survey in Hawaiʻi. These annual surveys assess the numbers and sizes of bottomfish around the main Hawaiian Islands. The center has continually strived to improve data used in the Deep 7 stock assessments and is working towards a single-species assessment for crimson jobfish.
Learn more about our research of the Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish group
