Habitat
Small bastard trumpeter or ‘paperfish’ as they are known, form schools over shallow rocky reef areas while larger specimens are found mainly as solitary fish in deeper waters up to 160 metres.
Fishing information
Bastard trumpeter are only occasionally caught on rod and line using baits such as sandworms, prawns or scallop. They are most commonly caught in gillnets and frequently seen around the Tasmanian coast by divers. These fish are highly regarded in most areas of Tasmania for their good eating qualities and because of their appealing colouration.
Handling
These fish can have sharp dorsal spines.
Cooking
Trumpeter have a high oil content, excellent flavour and fine textured, moist flesh. The dark flesh becomes lighter when cooked but does not keep well. Use as fillets or whole. Suitable to bake, barbecue, grill, smoke or shallow fry.
Recipe: Japanese Barbecued Trumpeter with Ginger:
2 small trumpeter, whole with head on; salt; lemon juice or soy sauce; grated fresh ginger.
Rub fish inside and out with salt and allow to stand for 30 minutes. Thread barbecue skewers through each fish from mouth to tail, baste with lemon juice or soy sauce and barbecue or grill for about 7 minutes on each side until cooked. Serve with lemon juice or soy sauce and grated ginger.