FISHY BUSINESS
Butter fish Name: Butterfish or greenbone Māori names: Mararī Scientific name: Odax Pullus Looks like: Butterfish have a streamlined but plump body, and are easily identified by their broad sweeping anal and dorsal fins. Adult butterfish average 45–55cm in length with a maximum size of about 70cm. Body colour depends on size and sex − young fish are yellowish brown with a white stripe down each side, adult females are brown with a pale band replacing the dashes, and adult males are brown to olive green. Breeding males are bright blue with a light blue stripe on the head. Butterfish are sometimes referred to as green bone because their bones have a greenish tinge. Habitat: Mararī are endemic to New Zealand and inhabit rocky coastlines throughout the country, though are more abundant south of East Cape and especially around Cook Strait.They are rarely found at depths greater than 15 metres. Feeds on: Greenbone are herbivorous and feed on seaweed − they have micro-organisms in their guts that help to extract the nutrients.
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Catch: Butterfish would definitely be in the running for the most speared fish in the country. They are easily spooked so your best bet is to dive straight into the weed and hide, waiting for the fish to re-emerge (which shouldn’t take long). Camouflage suits can help. Cook: Praised as a good eating fish, butterfish isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. In fact this summer the ITM fishing show did a blind taste test comparing butterfish, snapper, gurnard, john dory and blue cod… and butterfish came in last (gurnard won and snapper came in second to last!) For those who do love it, there’s a delicious baked butterfish recipe on the rnz.co.nz website from Jeremy Jones, that uses courgettes, lemon and thyme to great effect. Did you know? All butterfish start life female, but at about two to four years roughly half of them (depending on location) change sex to become males. If they were human they would be: The vegetarian workmate with the indomitable microbiome cultivated over years of consuming homemade fermented foods.
Buy your licence online or at stores nationwide. Visit fishandgame.org.nz for all the details.
We’ve introduced a brand new range of licences to better suit your fishing needs. Whether you’re out there for a day or the whole year, you’ll find the right licence for you.
fishandgame.org.nz
