AJI “GON AJI” – HORSE MACKEREL
“Gonaji” are caught by the Nagasaki City Shin Mie Fishing Cooperative. They are given this name from the “Go” in Gotonada where maaji (horse mackerel) live, and because their bellies have a golden (o-gonshoku) glow. The golden maaji from Gotonada have firm bodies and have a rich fat content. You should definitely give them a try. They weigh at least 250g.
長崎市新三重漁協で水揚げされる 「ごんあじ」。これは五島灘に生息 する瀬付きのマアジで 五島灘の 「ご」と魚体の腹部が黄金色に輝い ていることからその名が付けられま した。五島灘産の黄金色のマアジは キュッと身がしまり脂じんわり。 是 非一度ご賞味ください。サイズは 250g以上となっています。
MEICHIADAI – GRAY LARGE-EYE BREAM
Meichidai is not a widely known fish in the seafood market, but it is one of the best fish during the summer season. Many white meat fishes, such as Madai, have less fat content in the summer, and this lowers its quality of taste. However, for Meichidai, summer is when it has the most fat and tastes the best. Meichidai is a rare fish on the market, but when it is available, we use the “Asajime” method the same morning and ship it.
知る人ぞ知る夏の一押しの魚です。真鯛など脂が落ちる夏に脂がのるメイチダイは大型でも40センチまで大体700グラムが福岡から出る一般的なサイズです。貴重な魚のためなかなか手に入りませんが、入荷がある時は活魚を朝締めで出荷します。
ISHIDAI – Rock porgy
Thinly sliced striped beakfish is translucent with a firm texture, an ever-delicate sweetness, and an “Umami” flavor. It has a much richer flavor than Japanese sea bass and flathead, the most notorious of summer fish. Ways to enjoy this fish include: “Arai” style slices, simmered fish, steaming, salt-grilling, meuniere, and “Ushiojiru”salt broth. Also good is to remove the skin, boil and make thin slices with a garnish of julienned ginger and scallions with lemon juice, or wrapping them on bamboo skewer and grilling until crisp, seared with soy sauce or salt and lemon juice.
薄造りにしたイシダイの身は透き通り、歯ごたえがあってほのかな甘味と確かな旨味が広がります。同じく夏魚の代表のスズキやコチよりも濃厚な味わいです。洗いや煮付け、蒸し物、塩焼き、ムニエル、うしお汁などでどうぞ。皮はゆがいて細切りし、ねぎしょうがの千切りをあしらってレモン汁で、あるいは竹串に巻いてカリカリに焼き、醤油をたらすか塩とレモン汁でも。酒の肴に最適です。
ANAGO – Sea eel
Many rivers flow into the Shiranui Sea of Amakusa where pike eel, growing in a location with ample food thanks to the freshwater, are called golden pike eel and have excellent marbling. Fished by long-line, pike eel here is known for quality far-exceeding the rest of the nation.
対馬の西沖でとれたアナゴは良質な餌を食べているために大きく育ち、脂が乗っている黄金のあなごです。
KAWAHAGI – Filefish
Thread-sail filefish and black scraper fish (membo in the local dialect) with long faces are caught in the Chikuzen waters. The name kawahagi (peel skin) comes from the preparation that requires the skin to be removed. Catches of black scraper fish (horse-faced scraper) have increased in recent years and are an ingredient for processing dried fish. Sashimi and braised preparations are favorites, but nabe-pot preparations are also popular. The full, round flavor of their liver is also coveted.
筑前海ではカワハギと、顔が長いウマヅラハギ（方言：メンボ）が獲れます。カワハギの名は「皮をはいで調理する」ところからきています。身は刺身・煮つけにして美味しく、なべ物などにもします。またキモ（肝臓）はその濃厚な味わいが珍重されています。
YAZU/INADA – Young Yellowtail
Yazu is a “Shusseuo” name of young yellowtail in Fukuoka area market. It has less fatty meat compare to Buri. It has elegant sweetness and satisfying texture.
ブリの若魚で、地方によっては違う呼び名になります。脂が乗ったブリに比べるとさっぱりとした爽やかな味わいで、ハリのある食感が特徴です。価格も手頃で刺身・照り焼・から揚げなどが美味です。
HIRAMASA – Yellowtail Amberjack
This fish doesn’t have as much fat as Buri, but has more fat and “umami” content compared to kanpachi.
ブリほど脂は多くなく、カンパチよりも脂、旨みが多い魚で、鮮度の良い物は刺身でこりこりした食感を、一日ほど寝かしたものは、まったりとした旨みを味わえます。
ISAKI – Japanese Grunt fish
Isaki travel in flocks, and these flocks are often seen in places like artificial reefs. It is a white meat fish with a unique flavor and the perfect amount of fat, which can be enjoyed especially with the large-sized Isakis.
イサキは産卵のため、対馬暖流に乗って壱岐沖を通り、旬を迎える初夏頃に筑前海にやってきます。身は白身で、特に大型のイサキは、特有の風味と適度な脂の乗り具合でたいへん美味しく、刺身・塩焼・ソテーで賞味します。
MAGOCHI – Flathead
Flathead – summer’s premier fish – is also known as tessanami when prepared as a thinly-sliced sashimi. They are coveted for their flavor that rivals that of blowfish. Flathead is delicious when prepared as tempura or as a fish hot pot.
夏を代表する高級魚。真ゴチは薄造りの刺身は別名「テッサナミ」と呼ばれ、河豚（ふぐ）に匹敵する美味しさであると評価されています。天ぷら、ちり鍋も絶品です。
SUZUKI – JAPANESE SEABASS
They are a light white fish which is ideal prepared as arai (a washing technique used to shed extra fat), grilled with salt, or in the French meuniere style.
白身魚の代表格です。洗いにして食べられたり、焼き物に良く使われますが、フレンチでも良く使われる素材でもあります。クセのない味わいは、納得の美味しさです。
MAHATA – GROUPER
Many types of grouper can be enjoyed in Kyushu. Sevenband grouper (Mahata) is the most recommended for this season. Although it is a fish that is not well-distributed among other markets, it is often found in the markets of Fukuoka. The firm texture of the fish is electable enjoyed as thin-slices.
色々なハタが穫れる九州ですが、この時期は真ハタがおすすめ。他の市場には殆ど流通しない魚ですが、福岡市場では良く見かけます。歯ごたえのある身はうす造りして絶品。
KISU – SMELT / WHITING
Kisu, which migrate toward towards the shore to lay their eggs, are allowed be caught beginning in May, and from that time you can see lots of fresh fish of this species in stores. Kisu prefers the clean sands at the bottom of the ocean. The beautiful waters around Shiga Island abound with high-quality kisu. To maintain the freshness of this fish, fisherman learn the technique of releasing the hook from the fish without touching it.
産卵のため岸近くに回遊してきたキスを獲るそうごち網・流しさし網漁業が5月に解禁されて、新鮮なキスが店頭にならびます。きれいな砂の海底を好む魚で、綺麗な海が広がる志賀島は良質なキスが良く穫れる漁場となっています。
TOBIUO – FLYING FISH
Many rivers flow into the Shiranui Sea of Amakusa where pike eel, growing in a location with ample food thanks to the freshwater, are called golden pike eel and have excellent marbling. Fished by long-line, pike eel here is known for quality far-exceeding the rest of the nation.
天草の不知火海はそそぐ川が多く、淡水の影響により餌が豊富な場所で育ったハモは黄金ハモと呼ばれ、脂ののりが最高です。はえ縄漁で獲られたこのハモは全国で抜き出た品質が知られています。
TOBIUO – FLYING FISH
Tobiuo is in season. The market price of this fish is reasonable all year long. Tobiuo sashimi is very delicious. Other recommended cooking methods for this fish is to eat it as dried fish or as “Namerou” (a type of “tataki”).
トビウオが美味しい季節です。 手頃な価格で買える魚です。刺 身にしても十分に美味しく、そ の他干物などにも良く使われま す。なめろうなどにしても美味 しさを味わえます。
SAZAE – TURBO CORNUTUS
Although turban shells have horns, those caught in the calm- waters of the inland sea have smaller one or have none at all, while those from the open seas have larger horns. In Fukuoka Prefecture, research is being conducted on mass- producing farm-raised spat in order to increase resources. Although shell-grilling is the most common way of enjoying turban shells, they can also be enjoyed as sashimi or marinated in vinegar.
サザエの殻にはつのがありますが、波静かな内海のものはつのが小さかったり、なかったりしており、外海のものはつのが多くなります。福岡県では資源を増やすため、人工稚貝の量産研究を続けています。サザエといえば壷焼きが有名ですが、刺身・酢のものなどでも賞味します。