Why is the Opah (or opa) Fish called Moonfish?
And why did the Hawaiians thought it was supposed to bring luck?
Is it because it looks a little like a gold fish?
Maybe because it looks a little like the full moon - all round and silvery.
They used to be pretty rare, and they don't swim in schools, so you could only catch one at a time. In Hawaii they were considered a good luck omen, and they were often given as symbolic gifts.
Even today they're caught usually by longlines
I was told by a chef at Onyx restaurant in Springfield, MA, that it is because they are most active at night or something like that. Maybe also had something to do with reflections in the moonlight, at night of course.
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