The Blue Marlin remains a sport fisherman’s dream! It is not only one of the largest and fastest swimming fish in the sea; the blue marlin is a king sort- highly prized by fishermen for its beautiful features and ferocious fighting ability when hooked.
You’ve landed the big Blue Marlin- now, your next question might be, can you eat Blue Marlin?
Blue Marlin is an edible fish, considered to be a delicacy by some. It has a firm, steak-like texture with a mildly pronounced flavor. However, Blue Marlin is a large predatory fish that should be eaten in moderation as it is loaded with high levels of mercury and other harmful toxins to humans.
There is much debate as to whether you can eat blue marlin or with a clear conscience. Blue Marlin has a distinct aesthetic, leading many to think they have an exotic taste. So let’s take a look at whether you can eat Blue Marlin or not.
Can You Eat Blue Marlin?
In short, the answer is yes; you can eat Blue Marlin. The Blue Marlin is edible and considered a delicacy by some.
Blue Marlin has similar features to the swordfish, a popular fish for eating; however, the Blue Marlin is mostly not a popular choice for eating like the swordfish.
The more important question is whether Blue Marlin tastes good enough to morally justify eating it despite its endangered species status?
While the Blue Marlin fish can be eaten, some individuals argue that it has a very distinct gamey taste and that they are better off being released back into the ocean.
What does Blue Marlin Taste Like?
If you are a fish lover, you’ve probably noticed that Blue Marlin is not as common or popular on a restaurant menu as swordfish or tuna fish, but why?
As mentioned earlier, Blue Marlin has a very gamey taste to it. Others say the Blue Marlin tastes similar to tuna fish, however with a stronger and more intense flavor.
Blue Marlin has fleshly colors ranging from white to pink, depending on their diet, and they have a firm, almost steak-like texture, with high-fat content and a mildly pronounced flavor.
Another reason that Blue Marlin isn’t as popular on menus as other fish is that many individuals argue that Blue Marlin is considered to be a threatened fish and should instead be preserved and released when caught.
Can You Eat Blue Marlin Raw?
Blue Marlin is delicious when eaten raw. In fact, some even say it’s a delicacy.
Several parts of Japan use Blue Marlin to prepare sashimi. Sashimi is a culinary delicacy comprised of fresh raw fish diced into small pieces and severed with a soy sauce. Even though Striped Marlin is considered the best for sashimi, Blue Marlin isn’t far behind!
However, like all fish, ensure that the Blue Marlin is exceptionally fresh and handled properly before eating it raw. If you are unsure, instead cook your Blue Marlin fillets.
Best Ways to Prepare Blue Marlin
So, if you’ve chosen the alternative route in which you’d rather fillet and prepare the Blue Marlin instead of releasing it. Follow these six simple steps on how to clean and fillet a Blue Marlin. I’ve also listed several ways that the Blue Marlin can be prepared.
How to Clean and Fillet Blue Marlin?
The first recommendation I’d give to clean a fillet of any fish, let alone a Blue Marlin, is to use a really sharp knife.
- To start, cut the Blue Marlin’s peck fin and its bottom fins all-around.
- Next, you’ll want to position your knife close to the gill of the Blue Marlin and then cut to remove its head and guts.
- Then, it would be best if you made an incision from the tail to the spine. Once the incision has been completed, the rest of the Blue Marlin’s filleting process is similar to a larger fish like a swordfish or tuna.
- So, you will want to break up the Blue Marlins loins to form thick fillets on each side.
- The goal is to maximize the meat- so be sure to cut deeply down the Blue Marlin’s side straight down to its tail.
- Lastly, as always, immediately ice the Blue Marlin’s fillets to help maintain freshness.
How to Prepare Blue Marlin?
As mentioned earlier, Blue Marlin is considered a delicacy when used for sashimi. There are, however, other alternative ways to prepare Blue Marlin, including the following ways:
- Raw
- Grilled
- Fried
- Sauteed
- Smoked
- Fishcakes
My personal favorite has got to be a simple, grilled Blue Marlin steak with a garlic and lemon-butter sauce.
Is it Safe to Eat Blue Marlin?
Blue Marlin has several health benefits; however, you’ll need to be cautious with the amounts of Blue Marlin you consume.
Blue Marlin health and nutritional benefits:
- Blue Marlin is an excellent source of very lean and healthy protein.
- Blue Marlin is low in saturated fats.
- Blue Marlin has low levels of sodium.
- Blue Marlin is rich in omega-3’s, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and selenium.
- Blue Marlin is an excellent source of iodine and magnesium.
Blue Marlin pre-cautions:
The problem with Blue Marlin is that it is a large predatory species that tend to be loaded with much higher, unhealthy levels of mercury and other toxins than other fish that are harmful to humans.
Blue Marlins are one of the fish species with the highest concentration of mercury.
Mercury is a highly toxic substance that is very easily absorbed into the tissues of aquatic animals, especially fish. The older and larger a Blue Margin becomes. The higher the mercury levels in fish are.
When we consume fish like Blue Marlin that contain dangerously high levels of mercury, the neurotoxins may lead to severe health issues.
These harmful effects range from kidney damage, reproductive issues and birth defects. High concentrations of mercury cause damage to a developing fetus’s brain.
Women of reproductive age and young children are advised to avoid Blue Marlin and similar fish containing high levels of mercury as it may take months for the body to rid itself of mercury.
So, consumers, beware and eat Blue Marlin with caution.
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Conclusion
My advice would be to expand your culinary horizons in a different way and instead steer away from Blue Marlin. There is a wide range of tastier and less endangered fish species to prepare or try out at a restaurant.
And let’s not forget- Blue Marlin fish are prone to have high mercury levels and other harmful toxins to humans. So, other species may be a whole lot healthier too!
To conclude, the choice is ultimately yours to eat or release your next Blue Marlin catch.
