The Siren Seafood Guide
Species Profile · Pacific Islands Fishery

Crimson Jobfish ('Ōpakapaka)

Pristipomoides filamentosus

Also known as Hawaiian pink snapper

Culinary Profile

Crimson jobfish has a delicate flavor.

Crimson jobfish has a firm texture and can be prepared in a variety of ways from steaming smaller-sized fish to fillets for sashimi.

Crimson jobfish is a great source of lean, healthy protein and rich in vitamins.

Gastronomic Specifications

Taste Crimson jobfish
Texture Crimson jobfish
Color Brown
Energy 100 kcal / 100g

Biology & Habitat

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 .

How to Buy & Source

Availability

Year-round

Source

U.S -wild caught around Hawaii and Pacific Islands Region territories.

Commercial Fishery & 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.

Nutritional Benchmarking Across 54 Species

Where Crimson Jobfish ('Ōpakapaka) ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.

Nutrient Value Rank Percentile
Vitamin D 10.2 IU 11 / 54 80%
Choline 65 mg 12 / 65 82%
Protein 20.51 g 22 / 111 80%
Selenium 38.2 µg 26 / 106 75%
Vitamin B12 3 µg 30 / 106 72%
Omega-3 DHA 260 mg 46 / 104 56%
Phosphorus 198 mg 70 / 111 37%
Omega-3 EPA 51 mg 79 / 104 24%
Zinc 0.36 mg 96 / 111 14%
Iron 0.18 mg 98 / 111 12%

Similar by Flavour: Other Delicate-Tasting Species

If you enjoy the delicate flavour profile of Crimson Jobfish ('Ōpakapaka), these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should Crimson Jobfish ('Ōpakapaka) be cooked?

Crimson Jobfish ('Ōpakapaka) has Crimson jobfish has a firm texture and can be prepared in a variety of ways from steaming smaller-sized fish to fillets for sashimi. — suited to gentle methods that preserve moisture (poaching, sous-vide, low-heat roasting) as much as high-heat techniques (grilling, searing), depending on thickness of the cut.

What is the stock status of Crimson Jobfish ('Ōpakapaka)?

The American Samoa stock is not overfished. The population level for the remaining five bottomfish complexes that contain crimson jobfish range from not overfished to unknown.

How much protein is in 100 g of Crimson Jobfish ('Ōpakapaka)?

A 100 g raw serving of Crimson Jobfish ('Ōpakapaka) provides 20.51 g of protein — roughly 41% of the FDA 50 g daily value.

How big does Crimson Jobfish ('Ōpakapaka) get?

reach about 20 lb and 3 feet.

Is Crimson Jobfish ('Ōpakapaka) a good source of vitamin B12?

Yes — Crimson Jobfish ('Ōpakapaka) provides 3 µg of vitamin B12 per 100 g raw, which is 125% of the 2.4 µg daily value.

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Sustainability Story

Not Overfished Stocks Stable Smart Choice

U.S. wild-caught crimson jobfish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.

Stock Structure

There are six stocks of crimson jobfish. Because golden eye jobfish is often indistinguishable from crimson jobfish, these two stocks are contained in some stock complexes together. Crimson jobfish and golden eye jobfish are contained in stock complexes in American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Population

The American Samoa stock is not overfished. The population level for the remaining five bottomfish complexes that contain crimson jobfish range from not overfished to unknown.

Fishing Rate

Not subject to overfishing for four stocks/complexes. The overfishing status is unknown for the remaining stock two stock complexes, but catch is at recommended level.

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.

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 is managed as part of multispecies stock complexes under these four ecosystem plans.

Data Source: NOAA Fisheries

Nutritional Profile

per 100 g raw edible portion · 21 values

Energy

Calories 100 kcal

Macronutrients

Protein 20.51 g 41% DV
Total Fat 1.34 g 2% DV
Saturated Fat 0.29 g 1% DV
Monounsaturated Fat 0.25 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.46 g
Cholesterol 37 mg 12% DV

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

EPA (20:5 n-3) 51 mg
DHA (22:6 n-3) 260 mg

Vitamins

Vitamin D 10.2 IU 1% DV
Vitamin B12 3 µg 125% DV
Vitamin A 106 IU 4% DV

Minerals

Selenium 38.2 µg 69% DV
Choline 65 mg 12% DV
Phosphorus 198 mg 16% DV
Potassium 417 mg 9% DV
Magnesium 32 mg 8% DV
Calcium 32 mg 2% DV
Iron 0.18 mg 1% DV
Zinc 0.36 mg 3% DV
Sodium 64 mg 3% DV

Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.

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Frozen available year-round.