Opaleye
Girella nigricans
The Opaleye is a distinctive perch-like fish with a compressed oval body and characteristic bright blue eyes. They are herbivorous fish that feed primarily on algae and marine vegetation.
Opaleye at a glance
- Scientific name
- Girella nigricans
- Typical size
- 10-16 inches, 1-4 lbs
- Water
- Saltwater
- Habitat
- Inshore
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Common
Habitat
Opaleye are found in rocky intertidal areas, kelp beds, and around piers along the Pacific coast from California to Baja Mexico. Anglers typically target them with small hooks using marine worms, small crabs, or algae as bait around rocky structure and kelp forests. They are popular among shore and pier anglers.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a opaleye through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksOpaleye questions people ask
Opaleye is Girella nigricans.
A typical opaleye runs 10-16 inches, 1-4 lbs. Cobia records the length and weight of every opaleye you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Opaleye are found in rocky intertidal areas, kelp beds, and around piers along the Pacific coast from California to Baja Mexico. Anglers typically target them with small hooks using marine worms, small crabs, or algae as bait around rocky structure and kelp forests. They are popular among shore and pier anglers. It is a salt water species, filed under inshore in the Fishdex.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.