The closer to the bone, the sweeter the meat - Getting the most from Reds.

Landing a good Red Emperor is one of the great offshore fishing moments — but at OBM1770, we believe the job’s not finished when the fillets are off.

The wings, frame, and head are packed with flavour, and they deserve just as much attention as the prime cuts.

That’s why we make sure to use the whole fish — whether it’s on the BBQ, turned into crab bait, or, like on this trip, cooked into something even better: a full-flavoured Thai-style Red Emperor Frame Curry.

Snez’s Thai Green Curry Fish Frame Bake

After cleaning down the Red Emperor, Snez got straight to work on creating a stunning curry using the wings and frame.

This was no BBQ quick cook — it was a simple but flavour-packed Thai-style bake, using real ingredients that brought out every bit of sweetness from the fish close to the bone.

Ingredients:

• 1 Red Emperor fish frame (cleaned)

• 1 can Ayam 100% Natural Coconut Milk

• 1 jar Ayam Thai Green Curry Paste

• Fresh garlic (about 2 cloves)

• Fresh ginger (thumb-sized piece)

• Fresh lime (for zest and juice)

• Fresh kaffir lime leaves (a few leaves)

Method:

1. Prep the fish frame:

   
   

   • Rinse thoroughly under cold water to remove blood and scales.

   • Place the fish frame into a baking dish.

   
   

2. Prepare the curry mix:

   
   

   • Spoon out enough to cover both sides of the frame.

   • Finely grate the garlic and ginger over the fish.

   • Add the zest of the lime and a squeeze of lime juice.

   • Tear up a couple of kaffir lime leaves and add them too.

   • Pour over the coconut milk.

   • Cover with baking paper

   
   

3. Bake:

   
   

   • Place into a preheated oven at around 180°C (350°F).

   • Bake until the fish is cooked through — about 20–25 minutes depending on the size of the frame.

   • Optional (Open baking paper for another 5 - 10mins or until browned).

   
   

4. Serve:

   
   

   • Serve hot, pick the meat straight off the bones — the flavour is absolutely unbeatable. Add a side of rice or some greens to make it a complete meal.

   
   

Watch the full video here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrXU785Muv9e4J9CWUPHX7dTyQuc-57wp&si=Iw_yUhpYbnNt_zrh

And don’t waste the rest!

After the feast, the tougher bits — the head and any leftover bones — were set aside to be used as crab bait.

A Red Emperor head is tough enough to last in the pots and draws in mud crabs like a magnet.

Respect the Catch

At OBM, we believe in using every part of the fish — from the fillets, to the wings, to the frame, right through to the crab bait.

It’s not just about making more meals — it’s about showing real respect for the ocean and the fish we’re lucky enough to catch.