Mooshy Tuna?

Orca · 08-04-2002, 01:58 PM

I bought a Tuna at the dock in Newport yesterday and filleted in last night at home. The fishes eyes were clear, it was bleed and iced, and it did not smell. But, the flesh is less than firm.

I have never bought fresh tuna before, so I am not sure how the flesh should be. I know that halibut, ling, salmon, bass, etc. are all decently firm and trout are a little soft. This tuna however is pretty soft and falls apart easily.

Is this at all normal, or did I get a defective fish?

craigc · 08-04-2002, 03:35 PM

I've had that experience and it was due to the fish was not being chilled down for awhile after it was caught... the boat may have been catching too many fish at one time and the handlers couldn't keep up with the process, it takes time to process each fish, but that's not suppose to be your problem.

Booja 1 · 08-04-2002, 08:20 PM

Albacore meat is very soft compared to ling or halibut..In fact it's so soft after you pull the skin off and quarter the side slicing down either side of the dark stuff you can pull the meat of the backbone with your hand....That's just the texture of albacore....Yellowfin and bluefin tuna are firmer with albacore being the softest..just refrigerate and it'll be fine.......

Orca · 08-04-2002, 09:03 PM

Thanks,

Booja has the consistancy right on. I checked with another guy that has bought a few and he said they were soft as well. I wrapped a piece with bacon and thew it on the BBQ and it turned out great!

Pilar · 08-05-2002, 10:14 AM

Sometimes the 'fresh' tuna is a frozen unit, thawed at the dock for your use.

These are tasty enough but not very firm.

Even the fish I catch, sometimes turn out soft and falling apart. It must be all about the cooling of the fish.

Crashin' Bait · 08-05-2002, 09:38 PM

I try to butcher my albies when they are half frozen. They don't seem to fall apart as easily from the handling (except for that skinny section in front of the tail but, thats all stringy meat).

Threemuch · 08-06-2002, 02:19 PM

I bought one with the same result. Far worse than any I caught myself. I also noticed the skin and tail was pretty banged up on all the fish they had.

My guess is poor handling. Throwing of fish and such. Think how easily salmon bruise. Tuna is softer.

KB