“Bluefish can lose its fresh flavor very quickly because of its high levels of unsaturated fat,” he explains. So why aren’t more people eating bluefish? Freshness could be a factor, notes Barry Nash, Sea Grant seafood technology and marketing specialist. “Vary what you eat throughout the week,” he says. However, large concentrations are less likely in the smaller fish caught off the state’s coast.īaker advises moderation in consuming this fish - and all other seafood. Apex predators such as bluefish can accumulate high mercury levels. Smaller fish mean lower omega-3 fat content, lighter flavor intensity - and lower mercury concentrations. The aggregation of small fish here can discourage anglers who are aiming for larger catches but may actually benefit those who eat bluefish. The bluefish found off North Carolina’s coast typically are not large adults because more mature fish move north of Cape Hatteras in the summer, likely following optimal temperatures and food. Students at Cape Hatteras Secondary School work together to prepare baked bluefish. “They taste like the ocean,” Egbert says. But their fat also gives these fish a unique - and strong - flavor.

“Most consumers dismiss bluefish without trying it,” he says, noting one drawback may be that the fish is very oily.īluefish oils are high in omega-3 fatty acids, a key part of a balanced diet. Inland residents may not seek them out in markets or restaurants. He believes the fish may be underappreciated by those who live farther from the North Carolina coast. “Bluefish are an important recreational catch, mainly for the thrill of the catch rather than targeted table fare,” Baker adds. “Bluefish are among the top 10 fish harvested for both commercial and recreational fisheries - which isn’t common,” he says. Scott Baker, a fisheries specialist for North Carolina Sea Grant, notes that the fish are popular among all fishermen. “They have a healthy, viable stock, are fun to catch, and as long as you eat them fresh, they’re a very tasty fish,” she says. Division of Marine Fisheries who monitors bluefish. The species is readily available on our coast, according to Beth Egbert, a biologist with the N.C. The fish can live up to 12 years and may exceed 30 pounds in some places along the East Coast, making the fish popular among anglers seeking a large catch. Morley once found the tail of a stingray in a bluefish’s belly. In North Carolina, they typically eat anchovies, but bluefish are known to take chunks out of many other fish. He now studies climate and migration patterns of marine species, including bluefish, as a postdoctoral researcher at Rutgers University. “Their teeth are similar to a great white shark’s, meant for grabbing and ripping relatively large prey in half,” Morley notes. In fact, these voracious feeders “eat whatever is most abundant,” explains James Morley, whose master’s and doctoral research at North Carolina State University focused on the fish. They eat other fish, rather than dining on zooplankton or phytoplankton. Off the North Carolina coast, they can be found in all seasons.īlues are migratory apex predators. They swim along the Eastern Seaboard from Maine to Florida. Many people have been coming to experience the Hatteras Fish Fry for over 30 years.” BLUE BIOLOGYīluefish travel in large groups, or schools. It’s a must-do event for people passing through on vacation. Proceeds from the fish fry support community projects, such as the Hatteras Village Civic Association, the volunteer fire company’s Ladies Auxiliary, local churches and the island food pantry. We support commercial fishermen by buying bluefish from them, and then we donate all our profits to charitable organizations in our community,” she adds. The more money we can make, the more the community benefits. “Because bluefish are so readily available in the summer months, it makes them an economical choice for us. Why feature bluefish? They’re a part of local culture - and abundant off the North Carolina coast - notes Mary Ellon Ballance, a fish-fry organizer. The Hatteras Fish Fry is a popular local tradition that draws crowds eager to taste the freshly caught fish.

Bluefish taste