Dispatch Method:

Beware of the many small but sharp dorsal spines of queenfish when handling them. The eating qualities of these fish are greatly improved if they are killed immediately by iki jime or a firm knock to the head before placing them in an ice slurry after bleeding.

Fish Description:

• Body highly compressed (thin) and silvery with a double series of 6-8 dusky blotches (one row above and one below the lateral line), and a dark patch on the outer rays of the second dorsal fin.

Fish Distribution:

• This species occurs in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Indo-Pacific region from East Africa and the Red Sea to Hawaii, Marquesas, Line and Tuamoto Islands, northern Australia and seasonally as far south as Sydney in New South Wales.
  
• Adults inhabit coastal waters, frequently near rocky and coral reefs and offshore islands to depths of 100 meters.
  
• Both juveniles and adults are occasionally found in estuaries.

Fish Size Common Length:

40-60 cm, maximum size around 110 cm and 11 kg.