Local fisherman Jason Tuara has done it again, reeling in an impressive 63.5-kilogram Opah fish (moonfish) using the “poito” (handline) bottom fishing method.

This is his second Opah in less than a year. Nine months ago, Tuara pulled in his first Opah fish out at Avavaroa, Titikaveka which weighed in at 60.6 kg.

This time around Tuara said most of the hard work was done at the start by the floats. The fish was caught at the Rarotongan Fad on Sunday afternoon “right in the middle of the storm”.

“The fish had been fighting the floats for about half an hour, the fish would disappear deep down then the float would pop back up.”

When the fish tired out, it took Tuara about 15 minutes to land his catch.

The poito fishing method can range from 30 metres to 500 metres. “It’s hard work, you keep busy, you stay awake and you have a nice work out, out at sea,” Tuara said.

He also gives credit to his Tahitian friend Joachim who has shared with him valuable fishing tips and methods.

The Opah live deep during the day, and as the evening arrives, they venture closer to the surface. Opah fish are an unusual pretty looking deep ocean fish which have a silvery-grey upper body colour shade to a rose red dotted with white spots toward the belly, its fins are a bright almost fluoro like deep orange (or crimson), and its large eyes are encircled with gold.

The fish has a rich, creamy taste and firm, fatty texture which tastes like a cross between tuna and salmon. It can be eaten raw, is great on the barbeque, smoked and is delicious when cooked in a simple light tempura batter.

Tuara sold the fish to Timothy Vaikai from the Fresh Fish Company, who had also bought his Opah fish last year.