List of fish used for fish maw

Fish maw is sourced from various types of fish. It is largely consumed in China, where Sciaenidae (croakers/drums) tend to command the highest price per pound. While virtually any teleost fish has an edible swim bladder, certain fish species have been specifically targeted for their perceived high-quality fish maw.

Species Family Common name Region RefsAnguilla marmorata Anguillidaegiant mottled eel Indo-Pacific Arius thalassinus Ariidae giant catfish Indo-Pacific Aspistor quadriscutisAriidaeBressou sea catfish, Atlantic, westBagre bagre Ariidaecoco sea catfish, Atlantic, westBahaba taipingensis Sciaenidae giant yellow croaker, Chinese bahaba China Seas Boesemania microlepis Sciaenidae Boesman croaker; maw: Spider maw Southeast Asia Conger cinereusCongridaelongfin African congerIndo-PacificCongresox talabonoidesMuraenesocidaeIndian pike congerIndo-Pacific Cynoscion acoupa Sciaenidae acoupa weakfish, Atlantic, west Sciaenidaesmallscale weakfish, Atlantic, west Sciaenidae Gulf corvina Gulf of California Sciaenidaegreen weakfish, Atlantic, westDaysciaena albida SciaenidaeBengal corvinaIndian OceanDiodon liturosusDiodontidaeBlack-blotched porcupinefishIndo-PacificEleutheronema tetradactylumPolynemidaeIndian salmon, fourfinger redfinIndo-Pacific Hypophthalmichthys nobilis Xenocyprididae bighead carp Pacific, east Sciaenidae Indo-Pacific Sciaenidae Indo-Pacific Larimichthys crocea Sciaenidae large yellow croaker Pacific, west Lates calcarifer Latidae barramundi Indo-Pacific Lates niloticus Latidae Nile perch Afrotropical realm Leptomelanosoma indicumPolynemidaeIndian threadfinIndo-PacificSciaenidaeking weakfish, Atlantic, westMuraenesox bagioMuraenesocidae pike eel Indo-Pacific Muraenesox cinereusMuraenesocidae conger pike () Indo-Pacific Notarius grandicassis AriidaeThomas sea catfish, Atlantic, west Otolithes spp. Sciaenidae croakers Indo-Pacific Sciaenidae bronze croaker Indo-Pacific Nibea soldado Sciaenidaesoldier croakerIndo-Pacific Sciaenidaescaly croakerPacific, westPangasius hypophthalmus Pangasiidaepangasius, iridescent shark catfish South Asia, Southeast Asia Sciaenidae freshwater croaker Río de la PlataPomadasys argenteus Haemulidaesilver gruntIndo-Pacific Priacanthus tayenus Priacanthidae bigeye snapper Indo-Pacific Protonibea diacanthus Sciaenidae black spotted croaker, brown croaker Indo-Pacific Pseudotolithus senegalensisSciaenidae cassava croaker Atlantic, east Sciades coumaAriidae couma sea catfish Atlantic, west Sciades parkeriAriidae gillbacker sea catfish; Atlantic, west Sciades proopsAriidae crucifix sea catfish Atlantic, west Totoaba macdonaldi Sciaenidae totoaba (, ); maw: San Francisco maw, large whiskered () Gulf of California

References