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Yellowtail Scad

Trachurus novaezelandiae

Yellowtail Scad
Species

Trevallies

Description

Available wild-caught, it is a free-swimming marine fish found mainly in schools over the inner continental shelf and in estuaries and caught mainly off NSW and Victoria using purse seines, though haul nets and demersal trawls are also used and its line-caught in SA. Looks similar to the closely related Jack Mackerel, but smaller.

Other Names

Scad, Yellowtail, Yellowtail Horse Mackerel.

Family

Carangidae (Trevallies).

Season

Available year round with peaks in NSW and Victoria from January - August.

Size and Weight

Commonly 300g and 30cm, but can grow to 1kg and 50cm.

Price

Low priced.

Relations

Trevallies (including Bigeye, Black, Bluefin, Bluespotted, Diamond, Giant, Golden and Silver Trevallies), Black Pomfret, Darts, Jack Mackerel, Queenfish, Samsonfish, Turrum, Yellowtail Kingfish.

To Buy

Sold whole; look for lustrous skin, firm flesh, and a pleasant, fresh sea smell.

To Store

Make sure fish is scaled, gilled, gutted and cleaned thoroughly. Wrap in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months below -18ºC.

To Cook

Average yield is 35%. Has a strong flavour, medium oiliness and dry, medium-firm flesh with few bones, which are easily removed.

Cooking Methods

Deep-fry, pan-fry, bake, grill, barbecue, smoke. It is best wrapped in foil or vine leaves if baking or barbecuing, to prevent it drying out.

Goes Well With

Basil, caraway, chilli, coriander, cumin, curry, fennel, garlic, ginger, herbs (such as coriander, dill, French tarragon, parsley, sage, thyme), lemon, lime, olive oil, onion, oregano, sesame oil, soy sauce, tamarind, teriyaki sauce, tomato, vinegar, wasabi, white wine.

Alternatives

Australian Salmon, Blue Mackerel, Mullets, Sardines, other Trevallies.

Imports

None.

Recipes

Thai-style Sour Orange Curry of Yellowtail Scad & Broccolini