by John Shelton | May 25, 2018 | Isopods, Salmon, Trout, Shellfish
Sea lice are not new to the ocean, but in fish farms with many fish all together in a small area, sea lice and spread and affect an entire farm. A new underwater device scans fish as they swim, and looks for abnormalities in the fish’s scales. As it checks fish...
by John Shelton | May 24, 2018 | Cephalopods
If you think octopuses are strange creatures, you’re not alone. Some scientists believe octopuses may have alien DNA inside of them. I originally read about this on Quartz: A controversial study has a new spin on the otherworldliness of the octopus. We review...
by John Shelton | May 16, 2018 | Blog, Fish Recipes
Salmon Crudo with Spicy Kumquat Dressing. This fresh looking (and of course tasting) salmon crudo has fresh salmon topped with razor thin, crunchy slices of fennel, segmented oranges, and topped with a drizzle of spicy kumquat dressing. Leafy fennel fronds were added...
by John Shelton | Mar 12, 2018 | Flatfish, Saltwater Finfish, Sanddab, Species ID
Speckled Sanddab – Citharichthys stigmaeus. Identifying Characteristics and Biology Small fish in the flounder family, growing up to about 6 to 8 inches in length and weighing about a pound. They are olive brown in color with dark and white speckles all...
by John Shelton | Jan 10, 2018 | Crustaceans, Shrimp and Prawn Recipes, Shrimp and Prawns
Spot prawns (Pandalus platyceros) – a commercially and sport caught Eastern Pacific coast delicacy from Alaska to Baja, California. This sautéed spot prawn and sage dish is finished with fresh lime juice and cracked pepper. Spot Prawns with Sage and Lime from...
by John Shelton | Jan 10, 2018 | Lobster, Lobster, Species ID
The California spiny lobsters, Panulirus interruptus, are nocturnal invertebrates living in kelp forests and grassy beds along the Pacific coastal areas of North America. They are also called red rock lobsters or simply California lobsters. Identifying Characteristics...
by John Shelton | Jan 3, 2018 | Fish Recipes
Last summer, this was one of my favorite ways to serve my fresh caught ahi – crudo with a curry dressing. If you want a refresher on the differences between crudo and sashimi, I wrote about it here: Crudo vs. Sashimi. A drizzle of the curry dressing...
by John Shelton | Dec 21, 2017 | Basses, Groupers
The European bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, a sea bass, is also know as Loup de Mer (French) or Bronzino (Italian). Other names include: bar commun, lavraki, and robalo. Identifying Characteristics and Biology The European sea bass is silver gray all over with a darker...
by John Shelton | Dec 21, 2017 | Miscellaneous Finfish, Saltwater Finfish
The John Dory fish is noted in Jules Verne’s An Antarctic Mystery, published in 1897: Among the denizens of the deep, captured by the crew of the schooner with line and net, I noted more particularly a sort of giant John Dory (dorade) three feet in length, with...
by John Shelton | Dec 19, 2017 | Basses, Groupers
The Chilean seabass is the commercially friendly name for the Patagonian toothfish, Dissostichus eleginoides. It’s a deep water icefish that is related to the Antarctic toothfish. Identifying Characteristics The Patagonian toothfish can live up to 50 years and...
by John Shelton | Dec 18, 2017 | Basses, Groupers
Barramundi – Lates calcarifer, Asian sea bass. Identifying Characteristics Elongated body, with a prominent upper jaw. Large scales that are ctenoid (toothed on the edges). During their life cycle they migrate from freshwater to brackish water to spawn. They are...
by John Shelton | Dec 18, 2017 | Methods and Terminology
Baccala is Italian for “dried cod.” It is also know as klippfisk in Norway. Salt cod has a long history as an economical way to preserve fish, and making it easy way to transport it. Salt cod generally needs to be soaked multiple times to remove excess...
by John Shelton | May 24, 2016 | DPFishCo, Rockfish, Saltwater Finfish, Species ID
Brown rockfish – Sebastes auriculatus. Other common names for this fish: chocolate bass, brown bass, bolina, and brown bomber. Identifying Characteristics and Biology The brown rockfish have deep bodies with different mottled shades of brown covering them. The...
by John Shelton | Feb 29, 2016 | Crab, Crustaceans, Species ID
Blue crab – Maryland blue crab – swimming crab – Callinectes sapidus. This crab is also known as the Atlantic blue crab or Chesapeake blue crab. Identifying Characteristics and Biology The blue crabs are swimming crustaceans with...
by John Shelton | Nov 5, 2015 | Rockfish, Saltwater Finfish, Species ID
Bocaccio – Sebastes paucispinis. A member of the rockfish family, Scorpaenidae. Other Names: Rock cod, grouper, salmon grouper, and Tom cod for juveniles. Identifying Characteristics and Biology The bocaccio fish have large mouths with a projecting lower ...
by John Shelton | Oct 28, 2015 | Saltwater Finfish, Species ID
The Rock Wrasse – Halichoeres semicinctus. In Mexico, this fish is known as Senorita Piedrera. Below is the female and male rock wrasses. The wrasses are in the Labridae family, and many are colorful. Identifying Characteristics Rock wrasses are colorful fish...
