Bel Air Fisherman Reels In Second Opah: Report

OCEAN CITY, MD — A Bel Air fisherman caught his second opah fish in a month. The first time Austin Ensor caught the fish, it was a milestone for Maryland, where officials reportedly had to be consulted regarding whether it was legal to catch.

Now, the same crew has reeled in its second opah.

Ensor and his comrades aboard the Bel Air vessel "Primary Search" caught an opah on Saturday, according to Delmarva Now, which reported it took two hours to get the 159-pound catch aboard the boat, a larger haul than the 150-pounder they brought in on Nov. 12.

When they caught their first opah, the group consulted with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources regarding whether it was OK to harvest, according to Ocean City fishing show "Hooked On OC," since it was unknown whether one had been caught in Maryland waters.

Usually the fish is found in California and Hawaii.

The opah lives around Hawaii, California and "surrounding high seas" and is the only known warmblooded fish, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

It's the size of a large tire and is known as the "moonfish" because of its appearance, NOAA reports.

Its peak season out west is April through August, according to NOAA.

Of catching two opah fish in the course of three weeks in late November and early December, Ensor told WJZ: "It was pretty unreal."

Image via UnscenePro/HookedOnOC via YouTube.