As the saying goes, the best is fresh food. The fresher fish you can get, the better the food it will serve. So think about the options.
Catch your own fish
Now this is not as strange as it might sound. What could be fresher than a live oyster at the end of the hook or in your net? Well, practically nothing. Fishing is one of the most popular hobbies, and it comes in a number of ways, all of which are outdoors. It’s easy to start as a hobby with a lot of help and advice available. Try shrimp, shrimp, or snail netting on the beach. Climbing rocks for mussels and snail clams. Go fishing on the beach or off the cliffs. Try some great rivers, lakes, and inland reservoirs. Spend a day fishing from shipwrecks hunting for monsters from the depths. The options are many and after the initial investment in equipment, possibly licensing fees or a boat trip, ongoing costs are minimal, and in most cases free of charge. What are the benefits for you? Fresh fish and fun time outdoors. That’s if you get cheats.
But there are other alternatives
Buy fresh fish when they have arrived
If caught in a day boat, it would still be very cool on landing. Many professional fishermen will be happy to receive cash upon their return to the port, rather than waiting for the auction or distributing the fish through wholesale and retail trade. You and the fisherman will benefit, as the fisherman will receive prices higher than the auction prices and, in your case, will pay lower prices than they were at the point of sale.
Trust your food retailer to provide the freshest fish
We are moving further and further from the pickup point. Rely on the fact that both the local and independent fish supplier and Seafood of the Month Club have a good reputation to advocate for and they will want to provide you with the nicest fish they can buy. However, do keep in mind how fresh the fish is. Some of the largest fishing boats sail at sea for about eight days, catching fish from day one. While in most cases the fish are kept under ice protection, in some cases the fish are not discarded or cleaned at the time of fishing. The enzymes in the fish’s stomach, which previously helped convert food into energy and tissue, will continue to work, helping bacteria in the system to penetrate the stomach wall and break down the meat. These bacteria are not harmful to us, but they will lead to poor food quality and bad smell. The longer the fish is not cleaned or kept cool, the worse the problem will be.
Under ideal conditions where fish are discarded and cleaned, once caught and then kept in constant cooling throughout the supply chain, most fish have a lifespan of twelve days. Some fish, especially those in the Skate family, have a shorter life due to ammonia from urinating through their wings.
