90 



DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME 



OPALEYE 

 Girella nigricans 



Relationship: The only member of family Girellidae found in California. 

 Many other species are found elsewhere in the Pacific. 



Distinguishing Characters: The anal fin with three spines and usually 12 soft 

 rays; the absence of teeth on the vomer (there are minute teeth on the palatines at 

 each side of the roof of the mouth) ; the two bands of teeth on the jaws, the outer 

 narrow and the inner broad ; those in the outer band with three points and attached 

 to the membrane only, so that they are freely movable. Length to about 17 inches. 

 Color: Greenish, becoming paler below; eye opalescent blue; young with a whitish 

 blotch on either side of the back. 



Distribution: Central California south to Cape San Lucas, Lower California, 

 around rocky shores. The young are common in tide pools. 



Fishing Season: Usually taken irregularly with other species. 



Importance: A minor constituent of the Southern California "perch" catch. 

 Unimportant as a sport fish. 



Fishing Gear: Round haul nets; hook and line. 



Unauthorized Names: Black perch, green perch, blue-eyed perch, bluefish, 

 Catalina perch, button perch, blue bass, greenfish. 



