When the weather turns cold, it’s also the season for mullet roes. The fish mullet is valued for its roes, which can be slowly grilled to a golden color and consumed as a delicacy. At a fishing port in Changhua, people line up to buy the roe and the fish meat as well.
A huge catch of mullets is brought on shore at a fishing port in Changhua County. Each fish weighs about three Taiwan catty. That’s about 1.8 kgs. Four to five workers start a production line on the ground. The orange-colored roe is nice and fat. Buyers get in line with their sacks to buy loads of the fish and roe at a time.
A fisherman said the catch this year was about 4,000 mullets. Each Taiwan catty sells for NT$900. That’s US$32 per Taiwan catty or US$96 per fish. The fishermen are happy. They’re ready to make big money this year.
Mullets are not just valued for their roe. The whole fish can be consumed, from the fish maw to the fish meat. The meat can be made into a delicious soup just in time for warming your body for the winter.