Welcome to the fish box!

On this page we would like to shine a brief insight about the different fish species we offer. With up to 50 different varieties of fish, there’s a lot to learn and we hope we can answer some of your questions here.

 To use this site effectively simply scroll down the page to find the fish you’re interested in. Read the brief paragraph, and click the link on the bottom of each fish to learn more.

A Message From Mike

So I would like to give you a brief insight into what I have learned about the fishing industry over the last 26 years.

Fishing is a huge industry involving the majority of countries in our world in some way. Modern technologies in transportation, packaging, and communication allow us to purchase fish from the farthest corners of our globe and have it delivered super fresh.

There are many ways to catch fish. These include but are not limited to; rod and reel, hand lining, long lining, buoying fishing, kite fishing, open water fish farming, bottom fishing, gigging and trolling. Fishing has long been a profession in which ingenuity is rewarded, so practices are always changing world-wide.

One of the most important elements in conserving the freshness of the fish is how it’s caught, and equally important is how its handled immediately after it is brought on board the boat. Refrigeration is the key factor that determines whether the quality of the fish is preserved or ruined. Ice has to be clean. It has to be the right temperature so not to burn or freeze the fish. It is also important that the fish is iced immediately after being caught. Also, how and when a fish is cleaned after being caught is another major contributing factor in quality. The fish box which the fish is being stored in also has to have adequate drainage so the fish isn’t submerged in melted ice water. The fish also has to be packed properly. Fishermen like to pack their fish in even rows with the bellies facing down to allow adequate drainage. This method is referred to as soldier style.

Transport of product after it has been caught is equally as it is important to ensure these conditions are maintained through the duration of its travels. Maintaining a constant temperature of a fish is vital to providing a quality product. Temperature fluctuation will damage the fish and is noticeable in the meat. 

After a fish has been caught and then brought to port, it will either be sold to a waiting fish house truck and transported to a fish house, or brought straight to the dock of a fish house. It may also be off loaded and brought to waiting restaurants like ourselves who have acquired the proper licensing to purchase fish from properly licensed fishermen. From the fish house the fish will be sold, to either a wholesaler / fish market or direct or it will be shipped out of state or to foreign markets/ distributors. This is how the process works in other countries that export their fish here to us as well.

Most of the local fishermen we purchase fish from will call us if in range and offer us their catches while they’re still catching or when there on the way to the inlet. The state of Florida strictly monitors the whole industry. Florida Fish and Wildlife will issue fines or take away the licenses of those who don’t comply with their regulatory laws. The ocean ecosystem is delicately balanced which is why catch limits, fishery shutdowns and other protective practices have been put into place. This is all done in the hopes that we might secure a healthy ocean for our future generations. The companies that we purchase from are all conservation-minded environmentalists.

Fishing has become fascinating to me over the course of my dealings with our local fishermen and my travels to foreign countries. I always enjoy hearing stories about how people catch fish and why they target different species at specific times and places. I admire fishermen and you can hear and feel the passion and enthusiasm in their voices and body language when they talk about their trade. Fishing is in their blood. It has to be, because it’s not an easy life style. Dealing with mother nature in her elements is hard enough. And then in the best case they find themselves fighting and landing the fish, bringing it on board and eventually offloading. There are so many factors also attributed to catching fish such as water temperature, ocean currents, the moons position, the tides, and the time of year, spawning season and water depth. Fishing is a labor of love and we hope you truly appreciate the effort and passion that goes into the fish we serve.

We pride ourselves on quality and sustainability.  That is why we hand pick the companies we buy from.  Click on the links for more information on where we buy our fish from when the local fish aren't biting.

So we hope you enjoy our Fish Box page and we hope we may have been able to shine a little light on the fishing industry. So please fish responsibly and enjoy your day!

Hook Em Up!