Trigger Fish

TRIGGERFISH will be making waves as seasonal debutants tomorrow morning. Remember these little creepers? Sharp fangs for CRUSHING their enemy (prey) completely. Sandpapery rough skin to fend off enemies (predators) and a fierce spike attached to their heads for protective reinforcement. Their meat is sweet like brandy-wine on a sultry summer's eve. Why?  Because they feed on mollusks found in their natural habitat. Weighing approximately 2# each, these fish, when filleted, constitute a perfectly sized portion for your guests.  Add-on bonus: The price won't merit a nary hoot from the Big Boss.

Trigger Specimen

Other Carolin-ians in house include: Mahi Mahi, Bonito, Softshell Crabs. Call to inquire.
Why should you go Carolinas? Freshness. Availability. Proximity.
 Go FAP or go home.

Sheepshead, Blackfish (Tautog) and Pike 10/19/10

Mollusk Busters: You are what you eat.

If you like the taste of clams and other mollusks then you will LOVE this week’s variety of locally sourced mollusk crunchers. Sheepshead, tautog and triggerfish are headlining, if you will, on the fillet tables of our warehouse.
Below I have inserted what I am referring to as a brief product identification you may or may not be interested in viewing.
Sheepshead: Horrifying sheep-like mug. Sweeter than clams (its primary food source). Nice white fatty fillets. Reppin’ the shores of North Carolina. 2-5# each.

Triggerfish: Need I repeat myself on how I feel about these deliciously ugly monsters? Charleston Bump, Carolinas. Don’t eat the skin. 2-4# each.

Tautog a.k.a Blackfish: Once there was a man from Cape Cod who caught himself a monstrous Tautog out in Buzzards Bay. He brought the fish home to his baby momma, causing her to lick and smack her lips in delight. He sizzled up the skillet and filleted the fish. He threw the flesh into the pan and dumped the head and attached skeletal system in a bucket on the floor. They sat down and began to feast. Then, all of a sudden, their ears perked up to the sound of the fish slapping around in the bucket. STILL ALIVE! Doesn’t get much fresher than that. 3-6# each.

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Pike it out!

Wild Walleye Pike is the flagship fish of the North American Fresh Water Fishery. Pike is also known as the PREMIERE sport and commercial fish of the mighty Great Lakes. It puts up a fight and it’s white flaky flesh won’t break the bank. 4-6# each.
So now that you are in the “know” about how ridiculously awesome Pike is, you have two and only two very simple options:
1) Buy some Pike from the market this week.

or...
2) Sign up for a week at Wally’s Walleye Kingdom in Ontario Canada. See below for details.
Wally’s Kingdom important information straight from their website:

“Wally's Kingdom is first and foremost a strict sport fishing camp. Our guests catching the Walleye Pike of their dreams is our number one priority. Trophy pike and Walleye is what we're all about.” 
Wait a second, the Pike of my dreams? Awesome! Tell me more…
“Upon arrival Wally will personally provide you with our custom printed contour map of Nungesser Lake outlining the lakes best features. Wally will go over the map with you to point you in the right direction to put you on fish, and then instruct our guides to leave you in a remote area of the woods.”

 

Wow, imagine, I will be alone in remote woods. That sounds fun, AND SAFE! What else do I have to look forward to?

“Pine Island is the Calving ground for the areas Woodland Caribou. The Caribou, Loons, Eagles, and majestic Moose will be your companions as you explore this remote unspoiled wilderness paradise beyond the roads. We advise rigid protective measures during your stay in caribou country as the females are very large and fast runners. Female caribou can become both violent and pro-actively aggressive, especially towards New Yorkers traipsing around in their woodland kingdom.”
So, you are going to leave me with a fishing pole in the middle of nowhere Canada with killer female caribou that run fast? Sign me up!

   before and after

 

Trigger Fish and Swordfish by Flava Flave 9/29/10

Trigger Fish: An Orthodontist’s Nightmare.

Imagine this situation: You are patronizing a dive bar on the Lower East Side. You have had a couple of drinks and your beer goggles are gearing into effect. You are on the prowl and looking for trouble. Out of the corner of your eye you catch a glimpse of what appears to be a major hottie. She looks back at you and winks. You freeze. Your knees get weak. Love (more specifically, lust) at first sight. Then out of nowhere BAM! She smiles at you, bearing her teeth. You realize that where her beauteous pearly whites should be there is a horrifying row of sharp pointy fangs protruding from her pie-hole. Teeth so sharp they could cut glass! The kiss of death pending, you scream and run home to mommy. This freakish femme is what I like to call a “Trigger”.

=

Trigger fish have nasty vampire-like teeth, which they use to crush the shells of mollusks, sea urchins and crustaceans. Despite the bite, they taste AMAZIN’!

Scaling in between 2-5 lbs each, these tasty morsels have been making waves in the culinary world for years. Our wild triggers are caught off the coast of North Carolina.

Did you know?

The trigger fish has a double spiny dorsal fin which when erected serves as protection against predators. Once the longer anterior spike is erect, the second smaller spine must be depressed in order to depress the larger spike. Hence the name “trigger fish”. Hopefully that didn’t confuse you too much. Buy a trig and try it yourself, just for kicks.

Trigger fish, as fish go, are smart. They have the ability to remember and learn from past experiences.
Hopefully this pair of Trigs retain THIS memory:

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WHAT TIME IS IT? SWORDFISH TIME!


Coming live and direct from the Hudson Canyon, the North Atlantic Swordfish fishery is ALL GOOD. If you don’t know, the Hudson Canyon is like the offshore version of the Hudson Valley. Complete with its own geomorphology and marine biology, this underwater landscape is where a little topographical element called the CONTINENTAL SHELF drops off into the abyss off the coast of Long Island.
North Atlantic Swordfish is NOT overfished. In fact, they are everywhere. Check out this rogue swordfish tearing around lower Manhattan atop his ride of choice.

The North Atlantic swordfish population is now fully rebuilt! As a matter of fact, biomass estimates are currently 5% above their target level.

U.S. commercial fishermen use pelagic longline gear to capture North Atlantic swordfish. Pelagic longline gear has no impact on ocean floor habitats because it does not come into contact with the bottom.
Swordfish are so gangster.  Swordfish capture prey by slashing their long flat bill, stunning or injuring the victim during said process. Broken swordfish bills have been found embedded in ship hulls.

In closing, if someone tells you swordfish is not a sustainable catch:

Listen to Flava Flav: DON’T BELIEVE DA HYPE!

  Looking Good Flav!