Product Description
Monkfish
(Lophius piscatorius): WILD CAUGHT
ONLY A FISH WITH A FACE like this could have earned a name as peculiar as the Monkfish. Bellyfish, goosefish, allmouth, bellows fish, frogfish and Molly Gowan are also all regional identifiers. Found throughout the world, it prevails in the North Atlantic – and in our Gulf of Maine waters in particular. Its wide grin of sharp teeth makes it seem nightmarish in the display case, but once filleted its firm, slightly sweet white tail meat beckons comparison to lobster meat – hence its nickname the “poor man’s lobster.”
Monkfish are deep sea fish that lack scales which is also known as the anglerfish, because of the fishing rod-shaped antennae atop its distinctively ugly head, which are useful in luring a wide variety of smaller fish which they prey upon. With such a generous oral passageway, however, codlings nearly 2 feet in length have been discovered in their bellies, which can hold an inventory of food nearly half its own weight.
MonkTailThe tail end of the monkfish is what is marketed – more often than not the head is removed right on the fishing vessel – but when landed whole, the head and bones can be boiled down to a delicious stock, proving that nothing goes to waste. Monkfish “cheeks” cut from its large head have recently become a notable favorite of many upscale restaurants. Monkfish livers are also utilized in a popular pate, known as foie gras de mer, and are available whole and fresh in the cold winter months.
The Monkfish tail (usually between 3-6 lbs. each; whole fish can be as large as 75 lbs but are usually closer to 10 to 20 lbs) has a number of layers of skin and a bluish-grey membrane surrounding it, and care should be taken to peel these off prior to preparing (if cooked the membrane will shrink and ruin the meat). It has a single bone in the tail and once cleaned of membrane will yield two nice fillets. Often the dressed tail is split open, or butterflied, and bound for the grill, but is quite excellent when sautéed, poached, baked or fried. Often used in chowders, the meat of the monk can be also cooked and put in salads as a substitute for the pricier lobster.
The peak fishing for monk is late fall to late spring, but they are available year-round. Browne Trading’s monkfish are harvested by our local Vietnam fleet.
Catch Region: Cai Ba Island
Seasonality: Year Round
Catch Method: Trawl, Gill Net
Yield (Fillet Percentage): 39%
Flavor Profile: Mild and Slightly Sweet
Texture Profile: Firm and Dense
Substitute:
Red Snapper
Turbot
Lobster Meat
Origin | Vietnam |
Product Name | Frozen Monkfish |
Pack Type | foam boxes with ice/carton |
Pack Size | 17Cm-35Cm |
According to your requests, we can do Ikejime (strike live goods), Shiminuki, (nerve extraction), blood removal, scale-off, gilled, gutted, head-off, tail-off, fillet, sliced, wrapping with special paper, vacuum packed, blast freezing etc. When we treat fish, we use 5℃ water and then electorysed sanitising water to keep its quality at best. We are well-versed with export packing to keep live goods alive and maintain high quaility over the flight journey.
We send you photo and information of market availability on the day of shipment using social media tools on real time. Deploying our specialists both day and night time, we are alwasy ready to communicate closely with you about the details of your requests at any time. Please feel free to contact us.