Bluefish Recipes

Recreational fishermen claim bluefish are the most exciting fish to hook, since they are strong and relentless fighters. They can be caught from a boat, a pier or the shore, and are one of the primary sport fish of the mid-Atlantic seaboard. Their population is monitored and the bag limits adjusted accordingly, so make sure you know how many you are allowed to take per day.

Bluefish can have a very 'fishy' flavor, something fishermen, counterintuitively, speak of as a bad thing - why catch fish to eat if not for a fishy flavor? In any event, this flavor can be lessened if the fish is cleaned and gutted immediately after being caught, and the fish put on ice.

Bluefish are carnivorous and will eat anything. Because they possess an array of sharp teeth, fishing for them requires a wire leader, since a hooked blue could otherwise bite through the line. They have been known to try to take a bite out of people in the water if they are feeding.

Cook bluefish in acidic juices, such as citruses or vinegar, to further lighten their flavor. They contain a high amount of healthy fish oil that should be retained in the cooking.

To experience the joy of catching this fish from the comfort of your living room, read the Martha's Vineyard Mysteries series by Philip R. Craig. The series' hero, J. W. Jackson, is a commercial fisherman who doesn't work too hard at his job, but always has time to catch a few 'blues'. The mysteries are interspersed with the narrator's description of how he prepares his catch to tantalize his girlfriend with his culinary skills. Lots of fun and a mystery to solve as well.