Pomfret

Availability & Seasonality

Only small quantities of monchong are available because it is not usually targeted by fishermen. The largest supply is the by-catch from the tuna longline fleet, especially boats which fish deep waters around seamounts. There are no well-defined seasonal trends in availability. Monchong can range from about 4 pounds to over 25 pounds, but the prime market sizes are fish over 12 pounds. Like several other species harvested in Hawaii primarily as by-catch, monchong has gained an identity as an exotic fish which can add variety to restaurant menus.

Product Forms & Yields

Most monchong is sold to restaurants as skinless fillets. The large, hard scales make skinning the only practical product form. The yield of skinless fillet from the whole weight is about 45%. A thick rib bone which covers a large portion of the belly flap is trimmed off fillets. Small monchong are sold whole or gutted, as are some larger fish.

Shelf Life & Quality Control

Monchong has an excellent shelf life as a fresh product, lasting up to 3 weeks after capture with proper handling. Fish are landed and iced whole until final processing. It is not uncommon for parasites to occur in monchong. This condition may render the adjacent flesh unusable for aesthetic reasons, but simple trimming can correct this problem.

Monchong can range from about 4 pounds to over 25 pounds, but the prime market sizes are fish over 12 pounds.

Utopia Fish, Pomfret, Lustrous Pomfret, Bigscale, Sickle Pomfret, Castagnole Fauchoir/ Cosmopolite (French), Brachsenmakrele (German), Pesce Castagna (Ital

Usually caught in deep waters (greater than 900 feet), often in the vicinity of seamounts.

Two species of pomfret, also known as monchong in Hawaii are harvested in small quantities by the longline and bottomfish handline fisheries. The predominant species is the sickle pomfret, distinguished by the forked shape of its fins and large scales. Two species of pomfret, also known as monchong in Hawaii, are harvested in small quantities by the tuna longline and bottomfish handline fisheries. The predominant species is Taractichthys steindachneri, known as the sickle or bigscale pomfret, because of the forked shape of its fins and large scales. Longline fishermen from Japan refer to monchong as “utopia fish.” The large black scales covering the entire body of this species distinguish it from Eumegistus illustris, or lustrous pomfret, which has bronze skin color, larger eyes, and a thicker body. The lustrous pomfret also has a scaleless area behind and above the eyes lacking in the sickle pomfret. The lustrous pomfret accounts for less than 5% of monchong landings in Hawaii. Monchong are usually caught in deep waters (greater than 150 fathoms), often in the vicinity of seamounts. The lustrous pomfret has been caught on seabed slopes over 250 fathoms deep. Not much is known about the biology or habitat of these species.

Summary of Distribution:
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

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	Pelagic Longline This fishery uses a longline to catch a variety of pelagic fish on the high seas such as tuna and swordfish. A deep-set longline is used to primarily target tuna and a shallow-set longline is used to target swordfish or mixed species including bigeye, Albacore and yellowfin tuna. Baited hooks are attached to a line that floats in the ocean using buoys and flagpoles.
	Bottom Fishing Bottom fishing is....
	Hand Line Hand Lining is when....

	Vertical Hooking Vertical Hooking is when....