What Is Tilefish

The golden tilefish is the most colorful fish.

What is tilefish.

It is a selective fishery with little bycatch. After the 1882 mass die off great northern tilefish were thought to be extinct until a large number were caught in 1910 near new bedford massachusetts. Tilefish feed primarily on small benthic invertebrates especially crustaceans such as crab and shrimp. Tilefish is graded and priced by size with larger fish being more expensive.

There s a rich vein of gold golden tilefish that is laying off the atlantic coast. The tilefish is a deep water fish living and feeding near the ocean floor in large burrows it makes in softer areas of the sea bed at depths of up to 1 500 feet 457 m. Broiled tilefish is a fast savory weeknight meal. Since these fish live on the bottom they eat a lot of crabs lobster and other crustaceans creeping along in the deep and as a result their meat has an unusual flavor.

Tilefish inhabit a narrow stretch of ocean floor in a band of warm water along the upper reaches of the continental slope. Six species occur along the atlantic coast of the united states. This program is a catchshare program in the us for tilefish which determines catch limits for fisheries. Tilefish are similar in appearance to species in the sea bass family.

Two species the golden tilefish lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps and the blueline or gray tilefish caulolatilus microps are fairly plentiful in florida waters. Mollusks worms sea urchins and small fish are also taken. Tilefish is primarily almost always sold fresh usually whole though it is also sold fresh in fillets and steaks and when sold frozen it is skin on bone in fillets and steaks. The major fishing grounds are off eastern florida southern new jersey and the tip of long island n y.

Brush the tilefish fillets with a light coating of olive oil and add any seasoning of your choice. Try a seasoning mix or even a dry mix of your favorite. Tilefish is a deep water fish that lives along the eastern coast of the united states. If you re looking for a new challenge these fish might fit the bill.

Fishermen target tilefish with longlines. Some species of tilefish reach more than 4 feet 1 2 m in length. What is the united states mid atlantic golden tilefish individual fishing quota program. Tilefish are very versatile and their mild flavor pairs well with lemon or lime juice cilantro pineapple juice white wine or garlic.

Golden tilefish is low in fat and has a delicate sweet flavor similar to lobster or crab. It is estimated that tilefish live to be 50 years old. Most blue tilefish aka golden tilefish is caught in the u s. The tilefish family resembles the sea bass family in general appearance.