Common name: Hapuku wreckfish, Blue cod, Deepwater rock cod, Groper, Grouper, Hapuka, Hapaku, New Zealand groper

Japanese name: Minamioosuzuki (ミナミオオスズキ)

Scientific name: Polyprion oxygeneios (Schneider & Forster)

Nigiri sushi detail: Hapuku wreckfish (Minamioosuzuki) Nigiri sushi

Characteristics:

Hapuku wreckfish (Minamioosuzuki) inhabits temperate and subtropical waters of the southern Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, being found in Chile, southeastern Australia, and New Zealand. It can be found in waters between 10 m and 800 m deep, but generally prefer waters deeper than 50 m. It is grey with silvery white underbellies, with juveniles generally being blue. It has a pointed mouth and is similar to the Japanese Sawedged perch (Ara).

In New Zealand, it was and still is an important food fish. It is also a popular target for sport fishing. Minamiosuzuk was first introduced to Japan around 1980 when Japanese trawlers brought it back as a bycatch from Hake and sold it as Ara. Currently, it is imported as fresh fish from New Zealand and sold under the name Hapuku. It is a white fish with a slightly reddish color, and its flesh is tender. It has a subtle sweetness but has less flavor than bass. It is deliciously grilled with salt, cooked in a pot, or as meuniere. If fresh, it can be made into sashimi.

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