Bluefish, Latin Pomatomus Saltatrix, is a fish belonging to the Perciformes family. Bluefish, which lives in almost all seas in the world, can be caught in all seas in our country. The pearl of the Bosphorus is known as bluefish and is a fish identified with Istanbul. It is among the top three fish with the highest economic value in our country.
What are the Characteristics of Bluefish?
The bluefish has a large head and a medium-pointed nose. Bluefish, which has a strong lower jaw protruding forward, is a predatory fish that does not hesitate to use this strong jaw and sharp teeth. It has two dorsal fins and a forked tail. The bluefish has an almost straight side line and has around 95 - 100 scales on its side line. Its color is dark blue on the back and silver-white on the belly. The length of the bluefish can reach up to 1 meter and its weight can reach up to 12 kilos. The largest known bluefish was caught off the coast of North Carolina, USA, in 1972 and weighed 14.4 kilograms.
It has been observed that the bluefish, which is extremely aggressive, also attacks its own species and larger fish. When it is young, it lives at the bottom and feeds on creatures such as crabs, shrimps and plankton. Young bluefish are found in areas close to the surface and depending on size anchovy , horse mackerel, garfish, pickarel, necklace and kefal
When to Catch Bluefish?
Bluefish enters the breeding period at the end of May and this process continues until mid-June. During this period, it can lay eggs several times and lay nearly 2 million eggs in total. Bluefish can be seen in all seasons, but are mostly caught in the autumn months when they begin to migrate. Bluefish, which is still small in September, matures in October and becomes its most delicious, especially around the Bosphorus. The most delicious and productive period for bluefish is between the beginning of September and the end of November.
How to Fish Bluefish?
While migrating to Marmara, by seine and bottom net method; During migration to the Black Sea, commercial bluefish can be caught using the diving method. While migrating to spend the winter, amateur bluefish can be caught using fishing rods equipped with lures, cork fishing rods, spoons, and non-baited fishing rods such as mavruka. However, these methods are mostly for sports and recreational hunting. Bluefish can be caught from the boat or shore with classic bottom fishing rods or rapala. Bait is not important in boat hunting, but in coastal hunting istavrit and garfish can be used.
Bluefish Migration Period
Bluefish is a migratory fish. When the water cools down, it migrates towards warm regions. Migration is so fast in our country that it is completed by the end of the first week of June.
Bluefish caught during migration are leaner and less palatable. During migration, bluefish pass through Marmara and some regions in the Bosphorus by laying eggs. Bluefish, which spend the summer feeding in the Black Sea, follow the strait from mid-August and migrate back to warm waters. This migration takes place in a certain order according to the size of the fish. First the bluefish migrates, then the bluefish migrate after mid-September, and lastly the bluefish. It spreads throughout the Bosphorus and Marmara waters and begins to feed. In seasons when fish are abundant, it may be possible to catch bluefish even in shallow waters 3-5 meters from the shore.
Benefits of Bluefish
Blue fish is a type of fish rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, especially B12, and potassium, phosphorus, zinc, copper and sodium minerals. It is one of the fish types recommended for heart health and is recommended to be consumed regularly at all ages.
How to Cook Bluefish?
Bluefish pancan be cooked on the grill and in the oven. If it is to be cooked in the oven, kofana should be preferred because bluefish is more suitable for grilling. Yellowfin and chinekop are more delicious in a pan. But apart from these, there are many cooking methods and food types. Steamed bluefish, bluefish with mushrooms, bluefish stew, bluefish with garlic, bluefish in paper, baked bluefish with vegetables, bluefish with thyme, bluefish casserole, bluefish on skewers are some of these dishes. Since it is a very delicious fish, even cooking it in a lightly oiled pan or on a barbecue without needing any ingredients is enough for a feast.
