Hairtail
The Kii Channel facing Minoshima Fishing Port in Arida City is a great fishing ground where the seawater from Osaka Bay meets the Kuroshio Current, and the small bottom trawl net fishing method using a dedicated net for hairtail has been practiced since ancient times. The landing volume accounts for about 80% of the entire Wakayama Prefecture's catch.
It has achieved the top catch in Japan for 15 consecutive years from 1992.
Fishing boats depart around 3 a.m.
As hairtail are very fast rotting, they are immediately chilled with ice on the boat as soon as they are pulled up.
Around 3 p.m., the boats return all at once and are immediately taken to the auction site upon landing.
Local fishermen also catch them with lures as they chase small fish into the bay, making them a familiar fish to local anglers.
Although the hairtail is generally considered a high class fish, it is affectionately called "taccho" by locals and is often served for family dinners.
It is in season from June to October, and during this time, hairtail has a particularly light and elegant flavor.
With its delicate taste, it goes well with various dishes such as sashimi, salt-grilled, tempura, and simmered. The narrow and small hairtail, with its thin flesh even when filleted, is often chopped and eaten with vinegar miso.
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