Hawkfish - Stocky

Dispatch Method:

Beware of the sharp gill covers and dorsal spines of stocky hawkfish cod when handling them. Hawkfish and other related species can all be very tolerant of air exposure. To maximise their eating qualities they should be killed humanely by iki jime, or a firm knock to the head before placing them in an ice slurry after bleeding.

Fish Description:

• A relatively large, robust hawkfish with light to dark brown colouration with scattered white blotches and irregular reddish-brown spots on the body.
  
• The head has several wavy rusty-orange lines and spots, while the upper side of the caudal peduncle can have darker spots, sometimes converging to form a dark saddle.
  
• Stocky hawkfish fish are aggressive carnivores which feed mostly on crabs, but also on shrimp or other crustaceans, small fishes, sea urchins and brittle stars.

Fish Distribution:

• Stocky hawkfish can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and East coast of Africa through northern Australia to the Marquesan Islands and Mangaréva, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, and south to the Kermadec and Rapa Islands.
  
• These fish generally inhabit the shallow surge zones on coral reefs or rocky shorelines to depths of around 3 metres.

Fish Size Common Length:

20 - 25 cm (8-10 inches), maximum length around 30 cm (12 inches)