Opaleye

[Ken Jones]

Sea Chubs—Family Kyphosidae

Opaleye



An opaleye from the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon​

Species: Girella nigricans (Ayres, 1860); from the French word girelle (a derivative of julis, an old word used to denote a number of small wrasse in Europe), the Latin word nigr (dark) and the Greek word ikanos (becoming, in reference to its pleasing appearance).

Alternate Names: Blue-eye perch, green perch, bluefish, blue bass, greenfish, Jack Benny, Catalina perch, button-back, button-eye, button perch and button bass. Called chopa verde in Mexico.

An oplaye I caught one day at the Mole.​

Identification: Opaleye are perch-shaped but heavier bodied. Their coloring is usually dark olive green and commonly they have two light spots at the base of the dorsal fin. Some fish are pale green or bluish-green while a few almost all white fish have been observed. The eyes are distinctive: large and an opalescent, blue-green color.

Size: To 26 inches and over 13 pounds. The California angling record fish weighed 6 lbs. 4 oz. and was taken near Los Flores Creek in Malibu in 1956. Another 6 Lbs. 4 oz. opaleye was reportedly caught by David Douglas at the Santa Monica Pier in 1964 (Pasadena Independent, January 16, 1964). It was never officially recorded. The diving record fish weighed 13 Lbs. 7 oz. and was speared by David Williams at Aliso, south Laguna Beach, in 1964. Unfortunately, most opaleye caught from piers are less than 14 inches in length.

An opaleye caught by Amanda Liu at the Mole.
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Range: Gulf of California (isolated population), and Pacific Coast from Cabo San Lucas, southern Baja California, to Otter Rock, Oregon. Common from Bahia Magdalena, southern Baja California, to Point Conception. Less common north of Point Conception and rare north of Monterey. A resident population does appear to have made a home at the Monterey Coast Guard Pier in Monterey. Surprisingly, the World Record Fish listed by the IGFA is from that isolated population, a 4 Lbs. 0 oz. fish that was caught on February 24, 2019.

Habitat: Generally found in intertidal, shallow-water, rocky areas and kelp beds. Recorded to a depth of 105 feet.

An opaleye caught at the Monterey Coast Guard Pier by Ted Harada​

Piers: Can be caught from almost any pier in southern California located near rocks, reefs, or kelp. Less commonly taken north of Point Conception although occasionally seen at piers in Morro Bay and the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey. Best bets: Shelter Island Pier, Ocean Beach Pier (inshore), Oceanside Pier, Oceanside Harbor Pier, Dana Harbor Pier, Cabrillo Pier (jetty side), the Green Pleasure Pier and Cabrillo Mole in Avalon (the two best piers), Redondo Sportfishing Pier, and Paradise Cove Pier. Most of the fish caught at SoCal piers are fairly small to mid-size opaleye. The exceptions are the two piers in Avalon that almost always have good-sized fish available for the opaleye-seekers.

An opaleye caught by KJ, the Skipper, at the "Skipper's Corner" on the Green Pleasure Pier, Avalon
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Shoreline: One of the main goals of rocky shore anglers in southern California.

An opaleye caught from the rocks at the Palos Verde Penninsula
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Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters unless targeting them at places such as jetties and breakwaters.

An opaleye from the Oceanside Harbor Pier
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Bait and Tackle: Some anglers specialize in opaleye and many of them swear that moss or frozen peas are the best baits. I've actually caught more on ghost shrimp but I must admit that I’ve sometimes watched, while fishing at the Cabrillo Mole on Avalon, while a group of opaleye “pros” from Los Angeles (I recognize them by now) caught opaleye after opaleye. They almost always used moss as their “bait du jour.” I think all three baits are excellent for opaleye (although the ghost shrimp are more expensive and sometimes hard to find). Fresh mussels, pile worms, bloodworm, and small rock crabs also make good bait. I also managed to hook a few opaleye using garden snails during an experiment testing different baits at Catalina in 2005.

Food Value: A good eating fish that is mild flavored, small flaked, firm textured, and low in fat content. It is suitable for many forms of cooking but most commonly fried or steamed whole.

An opaleye caught at the Green Pleasure Pier by Hashem
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Comments: Primarily herbivores (vegetarians), opaleye eat a variety of plants including feather boa kelp, giant kelp, sea lettuce and coralline algae. Evidently they also grab organisms attached to seaweed as they’re making their rounds, tasty little items like tube worms and red crabs. Thus they are also somewhat omnivorous, feeding on both plant and animal matter. In reality they sometimes seem to feed on whatever is available. Opaleye are a favorite of many anglers; they're sometimes hard to hook but once hooked put up a very good fight for their size.

The crystal-clear waters at Avalon present quite a challenge for the sagacious, line-shy opaleye. Big schools of 2-4 pound fish hang around the Green Pleasure Pier and the Cabrillo Mole but they can be very hard to catch. They seem more cautious of line at the Green Pleasure Pier but if you use a light line, perhaps 2-4 pound fluorocarbon, you might get them. (Actually, to be fair, I catch them every year at the Pleasure Pier and I usually am using 8-10 fluorocarbon). Of course the 1,794 ropes, tangled lines, pilings, floats, shore boats and yellow submarines that surround and hang under the GPP might also get your line.

An opaleye from the Mole with slightly different colors​

At the Mole it’s the long fronds and blades of the giant kelp that sway (tidally) in or out near the railing. If a hooked opaleye is allowed to encircle the kelp it’s pretty much over. As soon as they are hooked apply pressure and try to keep them coming toward you while having a person ready with a net. You need to use light line but can also pay the consequences if you’re unwilling to apply enough pressure.

The opaleye “pros” who come over to Catalina from Los Angeles take the ferry over for one day, fish exclusively at the Cabrillo Mole for one species—opaleye, and are almost always successful (coolers are crammed with fish).

You learn from such experts and a few things should be mentioned. The first is that the opaleye are typically at a mid-water depth, five to ten feet under the surface of the water depending upon the depth of the water. They are rarely caught on top and infrequently caught on the bottom (although I’ve caught several fishing on the bottom at night and they are often caught on the bottom by anglers casting out from jetties). Second is that if you want to fish the correct depth a float is desirable and long slip-line floats are the preferred tackle for the opaleye hunters (although bobbers will also work). Third is when you see the float go down, strike and try to keep the fish out of the kelp. Fourth is that light line (preferably fluorocarbon) and small hooks (size 6 or smaller) are key.

Opaleye, especially the older, larger fish can be frustratingly difficult to catch. Chum with peas and a whole school may come up to check out the bait and fish after fish will approach the bait before turning away in seeming disapproval. But, the challenge of outsmarting the fish is part of the fun.

A nice catch of opaleye from the Oceanside Pier​

 

[moonshine]

Opaleye was the first fish I pulled out of the ocean as a kid. I was hooked.