Red Snapper (Heera)

Introduction

Red Snapper – Heera is one of the amazing and best-selling fish of the Arabian Sea. They are called “snappers” because of their large, animal-like teeth. Always high in demand and short in supply, the Red Snapper – Heera is a highly prized fish with almost stable demand throughout the year. It can fit almost all of your cooking requirements. Since it’s a good size fish, it can yield decent fillets, Boneless Biscuits, and Slices.

Flavor Profile

Red Snapper is a lean, moist fish with a firm texture and a distinctive sweet, nutty flavor which makes it versatile for many flavor components from mild to strong.

Nomenclature

English Name: Red Snapper, John Snapper, Golden Snapper

Local Name: Hira, Kanalcha

Scientific Name: Lutjanus johnii

Habitat

Red Snapper is a Sea fish that mainly lives near brackish mangrove estuaries, and on coral reefs down to 80 m.

Catching Method

Red Snapper is caught using Gillnets, and Hook lines.

Physical Attributes

Red Snapper has Scales on the body. Preorbital width equal to eye diameter or larger; vomerine teeth (on the roof of the mouth) in a V-shaped patch, without a medial posterior extension;  tongue with a  patch of fine granular teeth; scale rows on back parallel to a lateral line; 17–18 gill rakers on 1st-gill arch.

Color

Generally, reddish-orange with a bronze to silvery sheen, grading to silvery white on belly and underside of the head, center of each scale on the side with a reddish-brown spot forming longitudinal rows on side of the body.

Size

On average, Red Snapper size range is 0.5 kg to 5 kg per fish. However, larger sizes are also occasionally available.

Cutting Preferences

Red Snapper is preferred for Whole, Slices, Boneless Fillets, Boneless Biscuits, and Boneless Fingers

Approx. Cutting Yields

• Whole: 100 %
• Gutted: 80 %
• Headless and Gutted: 60 %
• Slices: 60 %
• Boneless: 38 %

Cooking Preferences

Red Snapper is preferred to Grill, BBQ, Fry, Steam, and Bake

Health Benefits

• Heart friendly
• Lowers Blood Pressure
• Improves Immune System
• Strengthens the bones
• Improves Skin and Hair health