Uku – Hawaiian Uku, Jobfish
Hawaiian Uku Flavor Profile
Uku has clear, translucent pink flesh which is moist and firm textured with a delicate flavor. It is one of the three most popular Hawaiian Snappers with a flavor slightly stronger than the delicate taste of Opakapaka. Uku is frequently used as sashimi and is called Aochibiki in Japanese.
Hawiian Uku Flavor Scale
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Typical Cooking Methods
Alternate Names
Jobfish, Gray Snapper, Gray Jobfish, Blue-Green Snapper, Green Jobfish, Ukupalu (Hawaiian), Aochibiki (Japanese).
Uku – Jobfish Description (Aprion virescens)
Although Uku are called Snapper, they are not a true Snapper. They are gray with green or blue-green tints and have average weights of 4-18 pounds but can reach weights up to 45 pounds.
Typical Wholesale Products
Whole fish, fillets, dried
Uku Availability
Fresh seafood availability chart: green areas show peak availability, light green show limited availability, gray indicates not available fresh.
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Uku Fishing Methods
All uku from Hawaiian waters are line-caught fish, the majority of which are caught using deepwater handline gear using power reels. Uku is also caught by trolling methods.
Butchering Yield Percentage
| Item | To Skin/On Fillets | To Skin/Off Fillets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Head/On ungutted | 45% | — | If you have additional yield info on this fish please leave a comment below. |
| Yield % varies according to a number of factors including: size of fish, season, sex, and the skill of your fishmonger. | |||
Range & Habitat
Uku inhabit tropical lagoons, channels and reef areas at a depth between 80 – 350 feet. Uku are found in oceans from East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, from southern Japan to Australia. The summer Uku season is entirely opposite to the winter peak for other deepwater snappers such as opakapaka & onaga, offering complimentary seasonal opportunities for these excellent Hawaii bottomfish. Uku feed mainly on fishes, but also shrimp, crabs, cephalopods, and plankton organisms
Special Notes
There have been some reports of ciguatera poisoning, especially in larger fish.
Sustainability Info
| Name | Alternate Names | Catch Method | Catch Region |
Seafood Watch |
Ocean Wise |
Sea Choice |
Mercury Concerns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uku, Aprion virescens | Hawaiian Grey Snapper, Green Jobfish, Jobfish | Wild – Handline | US Hawaii |
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n/a |
| Disclaimer: The sustainability info above is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, each program randomly updates their information without our knowledge. We therefore recommend that you verify the current accuracy of this information. | |||||||
 = Best
Choice/Recommended
= Good Alternative
= Avoid/Not
Recommended
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Updated August 2013 | ||||||
Nutritional Information
based upon a 6 oz (171 grams) raw edible serving.
| * Calories/Calories from fat | 165 |
| * Protein grams | 36 |
| * Fat grams | 0 |
| * Saturated fat grams | 0 |
| * Sodium milligrams | 98 |
| * Cholesterol milligrams | 75 |
| * Omega-3 | 450 |