Fish Identification Photos: Longfinned Bigeye, Longfinned Bulleye, Cookeolus japonicus: The Longfinned Bigeye has an overall crimson, scarlet red, or yellow-red coloration that includes all fins and the iris of the eye.

The Longfinned Bigeye is characterized by the last dorsal spine being the longest; it has elongated pelvic fins which are dusky to black. The Longfinned Bigeye might be confused with the Popeye Catalufa, Pristigenys serrula (oval body, very large dorsal fins, and rounded caudal and pelvic fins); and the Glasseye, Heteropriacanthus cruentatus (overall silver sheen, spotted anal, caudal and dorsal fins, and short pelvic fins).

The Lonfinned Big Eye is a member of the Bigeyes or Priacanthidae Family which are known in Mexico as catalufas or semáforos. There are only a limited number of the family and they have very large eyes, large oblique mouths, rough scales that are normally red or silvery red in color and are deep-water nocturnal fishes. There are 18 species of this family known globally of which only two have been previously found in the Sea of Cortez.

The Longfinned Bigeye is found only on a limited basis in Mexican waters, including along the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula from Magdalena Bay to Cabo San Lucas, along the coast of the mainland south of Acapulco, and around most of the oceanic islands. We believe that the fish pictured below might be the first report of a Longfinned Bigeye entering the Sea of Cortez, although this collection was made at the extreme southern end. The Longfinned Bigeye grows to a length of just over 2 feet and is generally found between 100 feet and 1,200 feet in the water column over rocky bottoms. The Longfinned Bigeye is viewed as good table fare but is so rare it is not of interest to most.

Longfinned Bigeye, Longfinned Bulleye, Cookeolus japonicus: Caught with Capt. Pata in the panga Salome, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in 73-degree water, in April 2003, in 100 to 200-foot deep water, in the first hour of morning light, utilizing a 30-pound test, 40-pound two dropper loop rig, with swivel, 6-ounce bank sinker, and Mustad 92553 hooks, size 2/0, on a whole squid, on the Inner Gordo Bank, San Jose del Cabo. Size approximately 14 inches and 1.5 pounds and was an average fighter. An extremely rare catch viewed by locals as good table fare. Note the rapid change in coloration as these two photos were taken within 30 minutes of each other. What was amazing is that the red disappeared very quickly. The Longfinned Bigeye is a true exotic. I have only see this fish perhaps one other time and that was collected off the surface as it had blown up and floated along half dead. Description and photos courtesy John Snow. Fish identification courtesy Dr. Milton Love, University of California, Santa Barbara.