SPECIES

Yellowfin Bream

Acanthopagrus australis

Yellowfin Bream are regularly seen on special in Sydney Fish Market retailers in the autumn months, and are caught in many of our local NSW fisheries, from Wallis Lake to the Clarence River. They are great plate-sized fish cooked whole, and their flesh also works well being steamed or poached with Asian flavours. Don’t be daunted by the idea of cooking a whole fish – it is deceptively simple and infuses it with incredible flavours (not to mention the extra deliciousness imparted by the bones).

DIVE DEEPER

COMMERCIAL NAME

Yellowfin Bream

Method of Capture

Net

Region

Seine nets, gillnets and trap

Other names

Black Bream, Sea Bream, Silver Bream, Surf Bream.

Scientific Family

Sparidae (Breams).

Seasonality

Available year round with peaks in NSW from February to June and Queensland from May to July.

Size

Commonly 200g-1.2kg and 25-35cm, but can grow to 4kg and 55cm.

Price range

Medium priced.

Alternative Species

Emperors, Morwong, Seaperches.

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES

SHOPPING TIPS

Sold mainly whole (gilled and gutted) and occasionally in fillet form (usually skinned). In whole fish look for lustrous skin, firm flesh, and a pleasant, fresh sea smell. In fillets, look for pale pinkish, firm, lustrous, moist flesh with some dark veins and without any brown markings or oozing water and with a pleasant fresh sea smell.

STORAGE TIPS

Make sure whole fish is scaled, gutted and cleaned thoroughly as soon as possible (completely remove the lining of the abdominal cavity and the white fat along the abdominal wall). Wrap whole fish and fillets in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze whole fish for up to 6 months, and fillets for up to 3 months, below -18ºC.

COOKING TIPS

Average yield is 35%. Has a mild, sweet flavour, low oiliness and moist, soft-medium flesh.

COOKING METHODS

Steam, poach, pan-fry, bake, grill, barbecue. A good plate-sized fish cooked whole, flesh also works well in mousseline.

Flavour pairings

Capers, chilli, coriander, garlic, ginger, lemon, lemongrass, lime, parsley, soy sauce.

IMPORTS

None. Frozen imported fillets of other species are sometimes sold as ‘Seabream’, although there is also an Australian fish called Seabream, which is actually a member of the Emperor family.
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