BF Tuna prices, crazy low

[chefchris401]

Ordered up some fresh bluefin tuna for a private party this weekend and was shocked when it showed up, but this time in a good way. usually its $7-15 a pound and you have to buy 10-15lb piece.

Wholesale price to my door was $1.95 a pound

called my sales rep just to make sure it was correct and I wont be seeing another invoice.

13.3lbs @ $1.95 a lb, $25.94

In comparasion weve been paying about $3.85 for ground hereford beef.

ordered a few more pieces for fish taco specials at the restaurant on Tuesday.

Ive been in the restaurant industry 20 years and have never seen it so low, or really any fish that low.

Heard a few different things, the seine boat got 140 or so fish the first day and crashed the price, but they had to catch or the quota would have been lowered for next season, another is the low fat content, i keep hearing all kind of things so cant say what or why the reasons are 100%.

The tuna was amazing, melt in your mouth.

Cut some steaks for tomorrows event, made some ceviche for staff meal and sesame seed crusted and seared some for lunch.

anyone have any insight to the real reasons?

[thefishingfreak]

Supply and demand.
Seiner flooded the already Swollen market
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[beamie]

Chefchris. Have you ever done spicy poki....mmmmm?
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[RickBomba]

Originally Posted by beamie

Chefchris. Have you ever done spicy poki....mmmmm?
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Sounds like a dance that needs adult supervision, like el baile prohibito, the Forbidden Dance. You guys can be the lambada kings with the spicy poki.

I'm just joking, BTW, I've made a few poke's back in the day. They'd be ok with Bluefin...it would be awesome as sashimi.

[blue oyster]

what are the fisherman getting for a price at the docks ?

[Fly Rod]

ChefChris...U R about right.....seineboat could not sell in japan...may have sold since then not for much if anything.

There is an old saying around here...."there will B tuna boats leaving the area at midnight because they can't pay their bills."...do not know Y the marinas let them charge the dockage..fuel and ice...over the years U would think they would learn to have them pay as they go....show me the money....

[MakoMike]

Heard it was due to several factors. Weak demand in Japan due to the weak Japanese yen. Seiner brought in something like 300 pieces. All of the tuna caught so far this year have low fat content. Take your pick or maybe its all three.

[bobber]

its still really expensive at the local fish market though........

I'd love to replace the hot dogs with some sashimi if the price was right

[Mr. Sandman]

Yes it is supply and demand but Fishery "management" just does not get it. (at all levels) The market should never become flooded. There are ways to manage fisherman so it never gets to that point. IMO someone in fisheries management should be fined and fired it this occurs. It is wasting a resource if it is sold at a price that is is not representative of the going rate. And while they are charged with keeping the fishery healthy...wasting it goes directly against that charge.

[EricM]

That is a remarkable price for BF tuna.

In NYC, for comparison, wild striped bass has been retailing for $29.95/lb ... on par with "Chilean Sea Bass."

[Nebe]

Time to fill the freezer
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[Rockport24]

unreal, I was sitting there shocked last night watching "wicked tuna outer banks" when the boats were getting $28/pound! Assuming that is real and not just for tv, I would guess it was the super high fat content probably paired with the fact that it was winter when they were catching these things, crazy how fast things can change.

At a 1.94 per pound, wouldn't it be more lucrative for fishermen to catch blues???

[Slick Moedee]

All wicked tuna prices are not accurate. North or South, all those prices are artificially inflated.

[Rockport24]

just part of the show huh? figures

that's actually scary because even at those prices, I can't figure how anybody is making money after paying all of their expenses, including paying their mates. Why the hell does anybody bother as a comm doing this???

[Nebe]

Tax right off.
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[niko]

Originally Posted by Rockport24

wouldn't it be more lucrative for fishermen to catch blues???

blues are worth around 70 cents a pound and if you fish north of the cape they're just not a viable option

[JohnR]

What is a good local RI market for Tuna then - would hate to see it go to waste

[PRBuzz]

Originally Posted by JohnR

What is a good local RI market for Tuna then - would hate to see it go to waste

Try Tautog, he had some nice fresh yellowfin

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by niko

blues are worth around 70 cents a pound and if you fish north of the cape they're just not a viable option

70 cents a pound is a high price for bluefish. most of the time they're worth 30 to 40 cents a pound.

[Fly Rod]

Originally Posted by Slick Moedee

All wicked tuna prices are not accurate. North or South, all those prices are artificially inflated.

Very true and most of us know that....U have to have some excitement for nu-B's to run out and buy tuna gear to make a fortune.....LOL...

All exported tunafish prices R set in japan...U never hear about the boot not worth anything and U still have to pay the shipping...

[JamesJet]

Anyone actually been able to grab decent tuna from a market at a ridiculously low price, even a good price? Its a special treat for me from friends when they get one or sometimes special occasion to to buy a small amount. I would certainly spend a few dollars this weekend if its really that low. I am a bit north of Boston, or down mid cape all the time.

Saw a boat at SQT on Friday late afternoon "waiting for a buyer" they were really cool guys to my son and I letting him see the fish etc. They brought in 14 yellowfin and were starting to look frustrated the buyer wasnt there....I hope he showed up.

[seadogg]

It was yellowfin, not bft, but I went to a restaurant in New Bedford called the black whale this Sunday. They had tuna tartare, which I tried and loved. Tuna was lightly seasoned with adobo and placed over a guacamole type situation, which then sat on marinated cucumbers. Little bit of olive oil drizzled on top with orange zest to finish. Fresh, complex flavor. Awesome.
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[zacs]

the tuna tartar at Black Whale is AWESOME!