Amberjack
Nov 19, 2025
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Large fish that migrates between spawning and feeding grounds
Amberjack is a temperate fish. Its juveniles are known as "mojako" throughout Japan. They inhabit the East China Sea and the coastal areas of northern Kyushu, Japan, repeatedly migrating north and south between their spawning and feeding grounds in Hokkaido, growing up in this migration. The fish has a beautiful spindle-shaped body, a blue back, a silvery-white belly, and a yellow band running from its eyes to its tail. It can exceed 80 cm in length in 4 to 5 years, making it a large edible fish.
Amberjack grow rapidly, reaching 30 cm in one year, 50 cm in two years, 60 cm in three years, and 70-80 cm in four to five years. From their third year onwards, they begin long-distance migrations, heading north along the coast in spring and summer in search of food and comfortable water temperatures (16-17 degrees Celsius), and south in autumn and winter to prepare for spawning.
A Variety of Common Dishes
Amberjack can be prepared in many ways. Besides sashimi and sushi, common dishes include teriyaki, salt-grilled, and Amberjack stew with radish. Rich and fatty Amberjack sashimi is widely recognized as a delicacy. Alternatively, the fish slices can be briefly blanched in hot water to remove excess oil and then dipped in vinegar; this lightly flavored instant-boil Amberjack is also very popular. Furthermore, "cold instant-boil Amberjack" (where the blanched fish slices are cooled in ice water before eating) is also delicious in the summer.