A Fort Lauderdale angler made a rare and remarkable catch when Laurel David reeled in a 148-pound Moonfish, or Opah, a deep-sea species seldom seen in the area. David told WSVN the catch came just as she was about to wrap up her day, describing the experience as unforgettable. The Opah, known for being the only fully warm-blooded fish, surprised even seafood experts like Reed Brand of Captain Clay and Sons Seafood Market, who compared the rare sighting to spotting Bigfoot.
On the flip side, just one day before David's stunning catch, Rex Lane experienced his stroke of luck along the same coastline, reeling in an Opah, this one over 100 pounds; a haul not seen in Fort Lauderdale since a 40-pound specimen was caught back in 2018, detailed in a report from NBC Miami. Such infrequent encounters with the Opah are attributed to their deep-ocean habitats and their enigmatic biology and ecology elements that evade the commercial fishing industry usually.
Last captured on record nearly seven years prior, the Opah's sudden appearance twice in quick succession is an extraordinary highlight in the local fishing chronicles, the implications of which regarding the species' movement and behavior along the southeastern Florida coast remain a curious matter for marine enthusiasts and scientists alike.
Laurel David plans to eat her "dream" catch, while Rex Lane hasn’t revealed what he’ll do with his Oceanic trophy.
