Kabayaki base WSJ Crossword Clue

Think of a slippery swimmer often found in Japanese cuisine.

??? is a long, snake-like fish commonly used in various culinary dishes, especially in Japanese cuisine.

Kabayaki is a Japanese cooking method typically used for ???, where the fish is split, gutted, and deboned, then grilled with a sweet soy-based sauce. This preparation is commonly associated with ???, making it the base ingredient for kabayaki dishes.

Wriggler in a coral reef, Fish in a caterpillar roll, Lurker in a reef, Fish that becomes a piece of fishing equipment when an "R" is added to the front, Metaphor for slipperiness