Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi)

Description
Yellowtail, Seriola lalandi, is widespread in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and is an important species for both commercial and recreational fishing in South Africa. They are pelagic schooling fish and have long, fusiform bodies. The South African angling record for yellowtail is 58.5 kg and the maximum recorded length is 1.43 m.

Origin
Woolworths sources wild-caught yellowtail from participants in the South African Traditional Line Fishery. We obtain yellowtail from the small-scale ABALOBI group of fishers, the Arniston Small-Scale Fishermen, as well as from other small-scale fishers in the Western Cape.

Attributes
Yellowtail flesh is light red to pink in colour. Cooked yellowtail meat is white and firm with a sweet, mild flavour and a flaky texture. Yellowtail is a great source of protein and is rich in vitamins B6 and B12.

Cooking
Yellowtail is a versatile fish that can be braaied, pan-fried, grilled, baked, braised, smoked, eaten raw (sashimi), and pickled. Wrap the yellowtail in foil when braaing and baking to retain moisture. It pairs well with fresh greens such as asparagus, broccoli and fennel, and herbed butter.