Jobfish

Jobfish the name given to fish of the snapper family in the genera Aphareus, Aprion, and Pristipomoides. These small to medium-size fish are found in tropical waters around the world, especially the Caribbean and the Indo-Pacific, and are important food fishes in some regions. A few of the species are:

• Aprion virescens, the green jobfish, aochibiki in Japan, maximum length 1 m (40"), widely distributed from E. Africa to the Pacific islands, a good eating fish which is usually marketed fresh but may also be dried and salted. It is highly rated in Hawaii, where frying (of fillets) is recommended by local authors.

• Pristipomoides filamentosus, the crimson (or rosy) jobfish, maximum length 80 cm (32"), with a range from S. and E. Africa to Hawaii, is of good quality, and is important (as opakapaka) in Hawaii.

• P. sieboldii, the lavender jobfish, maximum length 60 cm (24"), marketed in, for example, Japan (as himedai) and Hawaii (as kalikali).