Surgeon Fish-Sirizyen

The surgeon fish is mainly caught in fish traps. It is difficult to hook them because they have quite a small mouth.

Surgeon Fish- Sirizyen

When cleaning the Surgeon Fish or Sirizyen, watch out for the sharp scapels housed in a grove or sheath on each side of the base of the tail. They are not erectile and therefore cannot be erected or flicked out at will. They are hinged to the back bone by a strong ligament which is independent of the powerful musculature of the tail. When the fish curves its body, the tip of the spine on the convex side is bared; if this is snagged on anything the spine is unsheathed and the blade is thus enabled to cut.

Surgeon fish has very moist firm flesh that is quite fatty and makes it an ideal fish to grill. In fact most locals cooks would tell that there is only one way to cook the fish and this is by grilling with chillies and spices.