Mangrove Snapper Sushi - Sushi Everyday

Posted by Dan on August 1, 2017February 19, 2019

Mangrove Snapper Sushi & Sashimi

Mangrove Snapper Sushi and Sashimi

Mangrove Snapper sushi should be in sushi bars. One day it be a highly priced fish in the sushi market, especially in the US, but unfortunately, there hasn’t been a strong push to market them since chefs are more familiar with American Red Snapper and New Zealand Pink Snapper from the Pacific. Many US sushi chefs haven’t been exposed to Mangrove snappers; as a result, the lack of experience and market prevents them from incorporating this awesome fish in their menus.

Mangrove Snapper sushi nigiri — Mangrove Snapper nigiri sushi and sashimi

Why Mangrove Snapper Sushi?

Superior Quality

Mangrove snapper have beautiful meat, its firm, clean, and the bigger ones have higher fat content for extra flavor. The flesh is very firm and relatively easy to fillet for a white fish. The taste is subtle and not overpowering, it’s a good fish to try for those not used to eating sashimi.

Availability Year-Round

Mangrove Snappers are pervasive in Florida. They are both an inshore and offshore specie and can be found in a foot of water to hundreds of feet deep. There are no seasonal regulations. If you can’t catch one, than you need a new fishing buddy. They’re a structure oriented fish, so fish around Mangroves (hence their name) and over hard/wreck bottoms. One of my favorite headboat is Hubbard’s Marina.

The Importance of Bleeding Fish

Bleeding your fish asap after it’s caught is crucial in preserving quality. The intense stress that a fish goes under when its being reeled in causes stress, and as a result, lactic acid will buildup in the muscle. This can alter the flavor. So the sooner the fish is bled and killed, the better quality meat you’ll have. Also, this is just a more humane method of ending the fish rather than having it suffocate in an ice box.

Why Bleeding Fish is So Important for Sushi Learn More

I normally try to bleed larger fish regardless if its going to be cooked or eaten raw. The the meat is cleaner and much easier to work with. Look at the differences below: