Friday, September 17th, 2010 | posted by mike
Aside from our month-long celebration of Bluefish, we are also now in the thick of the finest, richest swordfish of the year! If you were to have one swordfish meal a year, now would be prime time.
Why? Because the Atlantic Swordfish stocks have moved north to New England’s colder water from warmer southern waters where they spawn in the winter. They are feeding heavily, fattening up for their winter migration and they are plentiful, closer to shore and easier to catch. Not only are these fish at their fattest and most moist, juicy and delicious, but they are fresher because the fishing trips are shorter—New England swordfishing trips to the Georges Bank and beyond can be long (3-4 weeks). When local swordfish supplies are tight, they’ll import from all over the world. However, right now the migrating fish are plentiful and close to shore so the fisherman can fill their holds and get those beauties to market much faster.
You can also now enjoy eating swordfish knowing the stocks are on the rebound. In the 80s, swordfish populations were on the decline but the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (CCAT) along with our National Marine Fisheries Service have done a great job in rebuilding the stocks. Cuts in total catches and the closing of nursery areas have really helped. The North Atlantic Swordfish fishery is nearly completely rebuilt…a FANTASTIC success story.
So enjoy the season’s finest—grilled, broiled, pan-seared or stir-fried. Now is the moment!