FathomOz

First spotted earlier in 2009 at Taiwan’s Keelung Fish Market

Then last week I saw the species being unload at the Coffs Harbour fisherman’s wharf in Australia.  The young professional fisherman explained the name and how it was a very oil fish which produced diarrhea if you ate too much of it.

A friend helped with this information:

“I looked up the rudderfish – several unrelated species are called rudderfish.  The other more specific common name is escolar, Lepidocybium flavobrunneum.

Their oiliness comes from their diet.  Oils – wax esters – they can’t digest.  Neither can we.  Recommendation on eating this fish:  small portion, 6 oz and grilled to let the oils drip out”.

“These oils in the flesh is used for buoyancy.  Gas gives more buoyancy but swim bladders burst for deep sea fish rapidly swimming to the surface at night.  Oil for buoyancy is a better solution for these species”.