What is kamasu in sushi?カマス
This time, I looked into the various names and seasons for sushi kamasu.
How to call kamasu
【kamasu】barracuda カマス
The barracudas on the market can be broadly divided into “red barracuda” and “yamato barracuda.” These two species are known to have multiple different names depending on the region. Red barracuda is called akahada in Wakayama, and it is named akahada because its scales are rougher than normal barracuda. There are also other areas called Shakhachi Dorokamas. Also, Yamato barracuda is also sometimes called Blue barracuda in Wakayama. This name comes from the fact that its scales are bluish compared to normal barracuda.
The peak season for kamasu
The season for barracuda varies depending on the type. There are two main types of barracuda eaten in Japan:
Red barracuda (real barracuda): Red barracuda is very fatty and delicious, making it a very popular type. The season is usually from November to December. Red barracuda is known to inhabit the southern regions of Japan. The main production areas are Kagoshima and Kanagawa prefectures.
Yamato barracuda (Blue barracuda): The season for Yamato barracuda is from June to August, which is the early summer. It is mainly produced in the sea near Wakayama Prefecture.
Each of these barracudas has its own season throughout the year. In many cases, the items that are available at that time are the ones that are in season. It is also said that barracuda has a very high water content compared to other fish. Therefore, it is often eaten as salt-grilled or dried fish.
Please refer to the above information and enjoy the seasonal barracuda.