What kind of fish is Hapuku?

What kind of fish is Hapuku?

wreckfish
The hāpuku, hapuka or whapuku (Polyprion oxygeneios), also known as groper, is a wreckfish of the family Polyprionidae, found around southern Australia, southern South America, South Africa, Tristan da Cunha and New Zealand at depths between 30 and 800 m.

Is groper the same as hapuka?

Hapuku (Polyprion oxygeneios) is known by the Maori name in the north, but groper is preferred in the south. This is a large, heavy, deep-sea fish closely related to the bass. It lurks in caverns and around reefs in deep water and is obtained only by line fishing.

What does Hapuku mean in English?

Wiktionary. hapukunoun. A large and valuable food fish Polyprion oxygeneios in the family Serranidae of New Zealand. It sometimes weighs one hundred pounds or more. Etymology: From Māori hāpuku.

What is hapuka similar to?

Very similar fish to Bass Groper, and the two species may be confused at market. Hapuku are found in deep offshore reefs around the continental slope across the southern portion of Australia. They are taken by trawlers and as bycatch of dropline fisheries.

Can you eat Hapuka?

Hapuku are a highly rated eating fish fetching top dollar on the local and international market. They are excellent baked or fried (not usually eaten raw) but, like any fish, can be easily overcooked.

Where can I find Hapuku?

Hapuku are most often targeted at or around slack water. They favour areas of high current and in many locations, it’s only possible to fish for them over the turn of the tide. Elsewhere, fishing is possible on any tide, but too much current can make staying in contact with the bottom all but impossible.

Is groper round or flat?

Fishing Methods In particular, they are caught off the east coast of the North Island, in Cook Strait, off Kaikoura, and off the west coast of the South Island. They are caught year-round, peaking during the mid-winter spawning season.

Is Wreckfish a grouper?

A cousin of grouper and sea bass, wreckfish was first harvested by accident in the South Atlantic in the early 1980s. The commercial fishery for wreckfish developed a few years later in 1987, with just two vessels landing the species in South Carolina.

What does Hapuku mean in Maori?

1. (noun) groper, grouper, Polyprion oxygeneios – a large heavy-bodied fish with a big head and wide mouth found in warm seas.

Is Hapuka good eating?

Hapuku are a highly rated eating fish fetching top dollar on the local and international market. They are excellent baked or fried (not usually eaten raw) but, like any fish, can be easily overcooked. Hapuku are by far, one of the best eating fish in our waters.

What is the difference between Hapuka and bass?

Hapuku and bass look very alike, but are easy to tell apart when placed side by side. Hapuku are greyer in colour – blue when young – shading abruptly to almost white on the belly. They are generally slighter and more elongated than bass and have a noticeably longer lower jaw, giving them an underslung look.