KEN SAKAMOTO / KSAKAMOTO@STARBULLETIN.COM A yellowfin tuna, or ahi, lay on the pallet yesterday morning during the fish auction at the United Fishing Agency at 117 Ahui St.

Ahi prices could rise depending
on the final catches of the year

---

By Lisa Asato and Diana Leone
lasato@starbulletin.com dleone@starbulletin.com

Fresh, red-fleshed ahi for New Year's should be in good supply at Oahu fish shops.

Prices so far reflect the supply and appear to be slightly lower than last year, but that could change depending on the quantity and quality of fish that comes into Hawaii today and tomorrow.

On Friday there were 40,000 pounds of ahi sold at United Fishing Agency, Oahu's only commercial fish auction.

Yesterday, nearly 70,000 pounds were sold.

"If there is a full amount tomorrow, we'll be fine," said Brooks Takenaka, assistant general manager at United Fishing Agency. "If it's low, then prices will be crazy."

Many Hawaii residents consider consuming raw tuna, whether in Japanese-style sashimi or Hawaiian poke, a New Year's tradition.

Guy Tamashiro didn't start buying high-grade ahi for Tamashiro Market until yesterday, so it would be as fresh as possible.

KEN SAKAMOTO / KSAKAMOTO@STARBULLETIN.COM Buyers checked out the quality of the yellowfin tuna before bidding yesterday at the United Fishing Agency fish auction.

"Some people who want the best, we save it for them," he said. Top-quality ahi sometimes retails for nearly $30 a pound, he said, while middle-grade will probably be available "in the teens."

Tamashiro said the top grade and lower grades generally sell out first, leaving ample supplies of middle-grade fish.

Frank Goto, United Fishing Agency manager, said no one who wants ahi will go empty-handed.

He said retail prices would probably range from $5 at the low end to about $18 to $20 at the other extreme.

"If you shop wisely ... you can get the kind of quality you want," he said.

Wholesale prices yesterday ranged from $1.20 to $13 for whole fish. By the time the fish is trimmed and retailed, its price more than doubles.

Of an estimated 20 longline boats at sea, eight came in yesterday. But Goto didn't expect all of the remaining 12 in before New Year's, explaining the mystery about how much ahi would be in stores during the crucial last two days.

"Fishermen are very secretive this time of year as to when they're coming in," Goto said. "They don't even tell their mother."

Jim Cook said three of his Pacific Ocean Producers boats would be bringing tuna in for New Year's and, like everyone else, he is hoping to "get a nice fish I can cut up and take home."

"I'd expect there would be a pretty decent supply of fish next three days, with auction volume up around 100,000 pounds a day and prices -- kind of an average year, maybe below average," Cook said.

Tropic Fish & Vegetable Center Inc. was selling its high-grade ahi for $21.50 yesterday. The cheapest fish was $12.30 per pound. Yama's Fish Market was selling its medium- to high-grade sashimi for $18.95, with its New Year's prices expected to rise to $21.95.

Last year, two days before New Year, medium-quality ahi was selling at $9.99 to $13.95 a pound at the Farmer's Market on Ward Avenue. The best tuna was getting $17 to $26 a pound.

"The auction right now like a guessing game," said Mel Tanioka. He said Tanioka's Seafoods and Catering in Waipahu has orders from regular customers for 300 to 400 pounds of sashimi and more than 1,000 pounds of poke.

Tanioka said even if the supply is short and prices high, he tries not to price ahi over $29.95 retail.

"Restaurants and sushi bars can pay more," he said. "Most people can't."