Japanese meagre
📖 Overview
Adult fish found mainly near shore beyond the surf zone, occasionally going inshore. Juveniles exclusively found inshore. Juveniles recruit to estuaries at about 30 cm TL. An important food fish .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 30; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 25. In life, silvery grey becoming darker above and lighter below. Dorsal surface with a bluish bronze sheen that may become coppery on head. Preserved specimens vary in color according to treatment; usually grey but sometimes brown; darker above and lighter below (Ref 11025).: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Japanese meagre is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; oceanodromous . Tropical; 40°N - 39°S, 18°E - 155°E northwest coast of India; northern Pacific from southern Korea and Japan, along the Chinese coast to Hong Kong; in Australia along the entire southern seaboard from North West Cape (north of Shark Bay) in Western Australia to the Burnett River (north of Brisbane) in Queensland.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Argyrosomus Japonicus is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.8 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 215 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Japanese meagre has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (lean white fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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