Bluefish - a predatory fish of the Black and Azov Seas

The Black Sea bluefish is a beautiful predator, an inhabitant of the sea with a silvery-whitish tint, a representative of the perciforme order. It attacks prey with tremendous speed, even throwing itself ashore in order to get food. Bluefish meat is considered a delicious delicacy, so it is widely in demand among gourmets. Our article will tell you about the benefits and harms of the scaly creature, as well as how to prepare it and its place in cooking.
Most often you

• Do it yourself 63%, 48 votes
  48 votes 63%

  48 votes - 63% of all votes

• Buy ready-made sprats 26%, 20 votes

  20 votes 26%

  20 votes - 26% of all votes

• I don't eat fish 11%, 8 votes

  8 votes 11%

  Read also:  Izhevsk and the Republic of Udmurtia - biting forecast

  8 votes - 11% of all votes

Total votes: 76

06.02.2020

×

You or from your IP have already voted.

General information

Bluefish is a schooling pelagic migratory fish, which in open waters goes into the water column 60 meters from the surface. This is a typical predator, feeding on horse mackerel, anchovies, and sardines. Bluefish hunt prey both in the upper layers of the water and in the depths. They instantly crash into the flock, dismember it and chaotically grab the rushing individuals. This process is accompanied by the “boiling” of water and the jumping of fish above the surface of the reservoir. The hunt lasts only 2 - 3 minutes, then the predators go in search of a new “prey”.

Juvenile bluefish that reach 10 centimeters in length begin to feed on shrimp, then, as they grow, they switch to small fish. Puberty occurs by 3 years of age. Between June and August, females spawn in open areas of the sea. Therefore, during the summer months, bluefish can be seen close to the shores.

Active fishing for this species is carried out in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, Venezuela, Brazil, Africa, Australia, and near the Gulf of Maine in the Western Atlantic.

The meat of a representative of the perciformes order has a dense consistency, white and tender. The protein content in it reaches 21%, fat – 3%.

Bluefish fish. Description, features and habitat of bluefish

Among the inhabitants of the deep sea, bluefish are ray-finned fish from the order Perciformes. Known as an active predator, swift in attacks after prey. In pursuit of prey, it jumps to the surface, sloping banks.

But it itself becomes a favorite object of sport fishing. Overcoming a predator is not easy - the fish has a desperate character, which may be why the icefin bluefish has become the object of a modern computer game.

Description and features

You can recognize a representative of the bluefish family by its elongated and flattened body, covered with small round scales. There are two fins with spiny rays on the back.

Bluefish fish

In the first one you can count 7-8 of them, and in the second you can find only one, the rest are cartilaginous and soft. Pairs of pectoral and pelvic fins are short, the tail is fork-shaped.

The color of the back is dark, blue-green, the sides are light silver, and the belly is whitish. The pectoral fins have a dark spot. Big head with a huge mouth. The jaw with sharp teeth is pushed forward. The bluefish in the photo looks like the real predator that it is.

Large fish can grow up to 130 cm in length and gain weight up to 15 kg, but commercial catches often include specimens measuring 50-60 cm in size and weighing up to 5 kg.

Bluefish spend their lives in a school. The large fish family includes thousands of individuals. In constant migration, schools of predators pose a danger to other sea inhabitants, but they themselves become prey for fishing vessels.

Schools of fish mainly stay in sea waters, at a depth of up to 200 m. In hot seasons, bluefish move to coastal zones and river mouths, but with cold weather they return to the open sea.

In hunting he shows unbridledness and passion. of bluefish schools of small fish into pieces with a rapid penetration, then marks the victims and overtakes them in a throw. With an open mouth and swollen gills, it catches prey and instantly eats it. After the hunt is over, the school of bluefish quickly unites.

Bluefish teeth

Bluefish fish for humans . In the depths, after meeting with a scuba diver, the flock takes flight. Only caught fish that desperately resist can cause damage.

In what bodies of water is it found?

Many fishermen are sure that bluefish is a fish that is found only in the Black Sea and sometimes appears in the Azov waters and the Kerch Strait. These are, indeed, the main refuges of the predator, but large schools of bluefish live in the waters of the temperate zone and subtropics of the Atlantic. In the Pacific and Indian Oceans, schools of predators are not uncommon.

The warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the shores of Africa attract migrating bluefish. Under the influence of temperatures and atmospheric pressure, a marine predator can dive to depths, stay in the water column and swim near the surface.

Bluefish feeding

The food of the sea predator is small and medium-sized fish. The speed of hunting attacks is so high that scientists for a long time could not determine how exactly the bluefish catches and swallows prey. In pursuit, he quickly jumps over the water, drowning out the victim in his fall. Only modern video recordings and slow-motion viewing revealed the mysteries of his behavior.

Observations of the water's surface provide clues as to where the bluefish are feasting. Like freshwater perches, predators attack collectively to dissect a school, and then pursue individuals, destroying them at breakneck speed. The circling of seagulls often reveals where the bluefish are dining.

Black Sea bluefish feeding

• anchovies;
• mackerel;
• sardines;
• mullet;
• herring;
• Siberian;
• anchovy;
• sprats;
• cephalopods;
• crustacean inhabitants, even worms.

The speed of devouring prey has given rise to a common myth about the greed of bluefish, which kills more fish than it can eat. It was assumed that the prey was bitten by a predator, but deciphering the recordings disproved this theory.

Bluefish fishing

Bluefish meat carcasses are very highly prized. Contains up to 3% fat and more than 20% protein. Delicious meat with a dense consistency is classified as a delicacy that can be eaten fresh.

The fish is also salted and dried. The delicate taste of the sea predator is known to connoisseurs of the Western Atlantic, Brazil, Venezuela, Australia, the USA, and African countries. There are practically no small bones in the meat.

Bluefish fishing

Cleaning small scales is not difficult. The saturation of fish with vitamins and microelements makes it a useful product. On the Russian market you can sometimes find bluefish sold under the name “sea bass”.

Fans of fish dishes should take into account that when preparing fresh bluefish, you need to be very careful: among its fins there are poisonous needles that can cause paralysis of the limbs if damaged.

In the middle of the last century, fishermen caught hundreds of tons of Black Sea bluefish. But the population has declined sharply since then. The fish are caught in set nets, but more often they are caught for fun.

Bluefish fishing is an object of sport fishing using a spinning rod. Active biting is observed in the early morning or evening, during the predator’s hunt. Once hooked, a resilient bluefish will resist to the last of its strength, and it is extremely difficult to pull it out of the water.

The fish makes desperate jerks, plunges sharply into the depths or jumps out of the water. The fight can last for hours. It requires excellent dexterity, knowledge of fish habits, strength and patience to overcome the resistance of a predator.

Bluefish sometimes reach large sizes

Often the winner is the bluefish, which manages to get rid of the hook as a result of cunning manipulations. Experienced fishermen tend to hook the fish right away. When the hook is firmly fixed in the mouth, a brake is installed and the predator is fished out.

For fishing, a two-handed spinning rod equipped with an inertial reel and fishing line with a diameter of 0.4-0.5 mm is good. Among the inertia-free ones, you can choose “Dolphin”. The spinner needs to be elongated in shape, with a concave part present. The hollow is filled with molten tin. A weighted spoon attracts fish to a greater extent, and sinkers are not needed.

Bluefish appear off the coast infrequently, only after storms; they are usually caught from motor boats. It is difficult to guess in the vast expanses of the sea where fish live. Fishing at random rarely attracts solitary predators.

The schools are revealed by splashes above the water, the clamor of seagulls attracted by the fish feast. The chances of successful fishing are increased by baiting pieces of horse mackerel, anchovy, and garfish if you move them 70-90 meters around the boat. Fishing continues from mid-summer to late autumn, while schools of small fish circle close to the shores.

Reproduction and lifespan

Bluefish mature at 2-4 years. The predator spawns only in thoroughly warmed water, from the beginning of June to the end of August. Females spawn floating eggs directly into the sea, in several portions.

High fertility saves the population from extinction, because other fish feed on eggs, and most of them simply die. Large females lay hundreds of thousands, up to 1 million eggs, from which, if they survive, floating larvae hatch within two days.

They are tiny in size, comparable to zooplankton. The larvae are carried over long distances by the current. It is extremely difficult for scientists to study all the mechanisms of reproduction.

The diet of juveniles includes small crustaceans and invertebrate organisms. When the body of the fry increases to 8-11 cm, the nutrition changes - a real predator awakens. Fish becomes the main food. Bluefish populations fluctuate significantly from time to time, with periods of extinction alternating with periods of abundance.

https://givotniymir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/lufar-fish.mp4
Source: https://givotniymir.ru/lufar-ryba-opisanie-osobennosti-i-sreda-obitaniya-ryby-lufar /

Bluefish fishing

The most “fishy” places are the Kerch Strait, near the capes of the Crimean Peninsula. Bluefish approach the shores only in the hot season. The fishing season for this predator falls on a narrow period from July to October. In the northern regions of the Black Sea it is even shorter and falls in August-September. As a rule, the search for bluefish is carried out from a boat, but you can also get to the school from the shore. This happens in the pre-dawn and evening twilight in places where fish hunt for coastal schools of mullet. This rarely happens, so such a case is most likely attributed to the great luck of the spinner.

Thus, bluefish are usually caught from a boat. On the open sea, fishermen closely inspect the surface of the water using telescopes and binoculars. The presence of a flock of seagulls on the horizon, often falling onto the surface of the water, indicates that bluefish are “operating” in that area. In order not to scare away the prey, you should not come close to the hunting area. The boat is stopped near the moving flock at a distance that allows casting a spoon, then they begin fishing. To attract a predator, bait and fertilizing, as a rule, are not used.

The catch does not always include only bluefish. Often the hunt takes place in stages: large fish follow small ones, and the “coveted trophy” brings up the rear. For example, when a school of anchovy is chased by horse mackerel, which is chased by mackerel, and it, in turn, is chased by bluefish.

The desired bait for a predator is any small fish, even a piece of herring. To catch bluefish, use spinning fishing (spinners, rigs). Metal plates (artificial baits) should be heavy, narrow, light-colored with linear dimensions from 100 to 200 millimeters in length and 5 to 15 millimeters in width.

Despite all the greed and assertiveness of a bluefish, it is not easy to hook it. Spinners need to be well armed. Three high-quality tees are attached to them, which are capable of breaking through even the toughest jaws of a predator.

The tackles are equipped with a narrow-bodied fish called garfish. The best time to catch is at sunrise and sunset from late July to November. Bluefish are biting intensely in the muddy, brightening water after a storm. When a fish is hooked, a struggle for survival unfolds: sharp teeth dig into the tackle in search of weak elements, it makes sharp thrusts, trying to plunge into the depths of the reservoir with a blow, then jumps to the surface and “walks on its tail” like a pike. Often, after strong jerks, the predator breaks off the rod and instantly goes into the sea. During a period of such violence, it is not easy to keep a bluefish; you need to have strong gear with a high breaking load of fishing line from 1.7 kilograms, a minimum thickness of 0.18 millimeters (preferably 0.25 millimeters).

After removing fish from a reservoir, you must not lose vigilance and relax; the caught predator can bite the fisherman and damage fingers carelessly brought close to the mouth.

Bluefish fish with a beautiful name

Information about the material: March 06, 2021 December 21, 2018

Bluefish is a predatory fish with an unusually beautiful name that lives in the warm waters of the Azov and Black Seas, as well as in the Kerch Strait. The bluefish is a schooling fish; it gathers in schools and hunts in the thickness and near the surface of sea water for other fish.

Schools of bluefish often come close to the shoreline, at which time they, like real hunters, drive in other fish that they prefer to eat: mullet, sardine, horse mackerel, garfish, anchovy, sprat and other representatives of the fish world.

Bluefish still prefer to feed on juvenile fish and therefore hunt them at river mouths.

Often, in calm weather, you can see an unforgettable spectacle of predatory hunting - this is a feast of a flock of bluefish, which often jumps out over the boiling water surface in pursuit of young ones; this is reminiscent of a children's game of catch, only the end of the game is not as rosy as we would like.

Bluefish description

Bluefish fish reaches a length of about one meter or more, the mass of large individuals reaches 15 kilograms.

This fish has a laterally compressed elongated silvery-greenish body, on the back with a juicy dark blue tint and a white belly that also shimmers with silver.

The lower jaw of the large mouth, like that of many predatory fish, is slightly pushed forward, and the mouth itself is filled with a sharp palisade of large teeth. Bluefish fish grow to maturity for about four to five years and during this time reaches half a meter in length.

Bluefish fish do not go to spawning as a whole school, but are divided into small groups and, inclusive, from June to August, lay eggs floating in the water.

Bluefish fishing

Amateur or professional fishing for bluefish begins from the end of July - beginning of August and continues until mid-November. You can catch this fish from the shore, but it is better to do it from a boat.

• Amateur fishing for this actively aggressive predatory fish can be carried out using a spinner, which has an appearance reminiscent of a garfish or anchovy. Fishermen - amateur craftsmen make these spinners with their own hands from metal stainless steel plates; steel is excellent for this. The size of the steel plate - a spinner, externally shaped like a kite - is approximately 110 x 12 (6) x 4 millimeters, where 110 mm is the length of the spinner, 12 mm is the width at the widest point and 6 mm at the narrowest point, 4 mm - thickness. The steel plate is ground to the shape of an anchovy and a high-quality, strong and durable spoon is obtained for catching the nimble and strong predator fish bluefish.
• An excellent alternative is fishing with live bait, which can have a different design, the simplest is a fishing line with two leashes, and above them, at a distance of about 45 +(-) 5 centimeters, a sinker in the shape of an olive is fixed motionless, the weight of which should be at least 30 and no more than 40 grams.
• Bluefish can also be caught on a spinning rod with a rig that is similar to the tyrant’s rig, when several short leashes or one leash are attached to the main line, and shiny small hooks are tied to it or them. This entire simple structure of the tyrant is closed by a light sinker. The wave-like movement in the water produced by this tyrant’s design reminds the bluefish of a school of playing fish fry and they recklessly attack it without fear, grab and swallow the hooks with their entire toothy mouth, like a trap.
• The most common type of bluefish fishing among amateur fishermen is fishing with a long-casting rod. In this case, pieces of raw fish can serve as bait: anchovy, sprat and other fish, but the main thing is that the fish has a silver color, it is this that will lure the bluefish; by the way, the bluefish itself is also suitable for live bait, only small in size or part of it without heads.

The period of fishing for bluefish is limited by the time of day, since it goes out on its hunt - feeding only in the early morning at sunrise and in the evening at sunset, no later and no earlier.

The favorite habitat of this fish is muddy water, but the water that begins to lighten settles after a storm, so you need to take these little tricks into account.

Amateur fishing for bluefish is similar in its intensity of excitement and attention to slave hunting for a cunning and dexterous predator that does not give up until the last minute.

If everything goes well, you can return home with a rich catch of bluefish, from which you can later prepare delicious fish delicacies: stewed bluefish or fillet in dough.

Source: https://www.andseafishing.ru/lufar-ryba-s-krasivym-nazvaniem

Effect on the body

The beneficial properties of bluefish meat are determined by vitamins B, A, PP, micro- and macroelements (calcium, iron, sodium, phosphorus, potassium), which:

1. Strengthen nails, hair, bones, blood vessel walls, making them less fragile.
2. They participate in the metabolism of fats and the formation of blood cells, and improve the condition of patients suffering from anemia.
3. They normalize water balance, the functioning of the heart muscle and thyroid gland, and blood pressure.
4. Increase stress resistance and reduce susceptibility to emotional shocks.
5. Activate the production of digestive enzymes, the synthesis of molecules of adenosine triphosphoric acid (ATP), myelin.
6. Maintains smooth muscle tone.
7. Stimulate the growth of cells and the body, prevent the appearance of rickets.
8. Maintains normal blood clotting.
9. Improves skin condition and cellular respiration processes.
10. Boosts immunity.

The fat in bluefish (more than 5%) is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have antioxidant properties and protect against diseases of the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, and malignant neoplasms.

Fish protein is easily absorbed by the human body, therefore it is successfully used in the nutrition of pregnant women, the elderly, and children. Bluefish meat does not contain carbohydrates, so it can be used in the diet of people with diabetes.

Easily digestible fish fillet is recommended for use when:

• metabolic disorders;
• arrhythmias;
• anemia;
• pellagra;
• oncology;
• Alzheimer's disease;
• nervous disorders;
• decreased immunity;
• brittle bones;
• diseases of the heart, blood, skin;
• disorders of the thyroid gland;
• lymphoma;
• reduced production of food enzymes;
• osteoporosis;
• rickets;
• poor contraction of smooth muscles;
• stress;
• elevated cholesterol levels;
• migraine attacks;
• thrombosis;
• atherosclerosis;
• hypertension;
• convulsions;
• radioactive exposure;
• baldness;
• impotence;
• slagging of the body;
• HIV infections;
• frequent allergies;
• chronic fatigue syndrome;
• hypoxia;
• dehydration;
• Keshan's disease;
• Adriamycin poisoning;
• colitis;
• psoriasis;
• low level of red blood cells in the blood;
• problems with tooth enamel.

Contraindications:

• individual intolerance;
• diseases of the liver, pancreas;
• overweight;
• excess sodium in the body.

Chemical composition

Table No. 1 “Nutritional value of bluefish meat”

Components	Contents per 100 grams of product
Calorie content	124 calories
Water	70.86 grams
Squirrels	20.04 grams
Essential amino acids	9.69 grams
Nonessential amino acids	9.635 grams
Fats	4.24 grams
Omega-9	1.516 grams
Ash	1.04 grams
Saturated fatty acids	0.915 grams
Omega-3	0.833 grams
Sterols (cholesterol)	0.059 grams
Omega-6	0.006 grams

Table No. 2 “Chemical composition of bluefish meat”

Name	Nutrient content per 100 grams of product, milligrams
Vitamins
Nicotinic acid (PP)	5,95
Pantothenic acid (B5)	0,828
Pyridoxine (B6)	0,402
Retinol (A)	0,12
Riboflavin (B2)	0,08
Thiamine (B1)	0,058
Cyanocobalamin (B12)	0,00539
Folic acid (B9)	0,002
Macronutrients
Potassium	372
Phosphorus	227
Sodium	60
Magnesium	33
Calcium	7
Microelements
Zinc	0,81
Iron	0,48
Copper	0,053
Selenium	0,0365
Manganese	0,021

The ratio B: F: Bluefish fillet is 72%: 28%: 0%.

During the cooking process, the calorie content of the fish increases. So, 100 grams of baked bluefish contains 138 calories, fried – 200 calories. After cooking, the meat retains its elasticity and juiciness. It is worth noting that there are no small bones, the scales are thin and easy to clean. The pulp has a pleasant, delicate taste.

Meaning for humans

Bluefish meat is very valuable. This is due to two factors: firstly, it is tasty, and secondly, it contains a small percentage of fat. Because of this, many fishing companies are fishing for this particular species. The largest production of this fish is carried out off the coasts of Australia, Venezuela and Brazil.

In addition, many fishermen organize bluefish fishing competitions. Moreover, similar events are held annually both in our homeland and abroad. Such popularity of the fish is quite justified, because only a skilled and strong fisherman who knows his business can catch it.

Source: fb.ru

animals, nature

Use in cooking

The quality and taste characteristics of a fish dish depend on the quality of the selected carcass. Fresh bluefish have a smooth surface, without foam, mucus, or visible damage. The smell is pleasant, marine. The eyes are shiny, as if they are glowing. A cloudy pupil indicates that the fish has been stored for at least 2 to 3 days on the counter. In addition, when pressing on the carcass, it should not make squelching sounds and quickly return to its original shape.

Most often, bluefish are fried or baked with herbs. In Europe, minced fish fillets are used to prepare minced meat, which is used as a filling for dumplings, rolls, pies, cutlets, and meatballs.

Bluefish meat cannot be stored for a long time; it is a perishable product, so in order to avoid food poisoning, it is prepared immediately after catching or purchasing. On the second day it takes on an unpleasant aftertaste.

Habits and lifestyle

Bluefish prefer to lead a school life. Moreover, sometimes the number of such a “family” can reach several thousand individuals. On the one hand, this makes the predator very dangerous for other fish, and on the other, it turns it into easy prey for the nets of fishing vessels.

In addition, bluefish do not like to stay in one place for a long time. Together with his flock, he constantly migrates, sticking to warm waters. During hot periods of the year, it can even go into estuaries or river mouths, but as soon as the temperature drops a little, it returns to the sea again.

Popular classic fish recipes

"Bluefish Kiev style"

Ingredients:

• wheat flour – 30 grams;
• fish fillet – 600 grams;
• chicken eggs - 2 pieces;
• butter – 100 grams;
• vegetable oil – 70 milliliters;
• salt, spices;
• breadcrumbs.

Cooking principle:

1. Pass the bluefish fillet through a meat grinder twice.
2. Salt and pepper the minced meat and form it into flat cakes.
3. Place butter in the center of each circle and seal the edges. Shape the flatbreads into an oval shape.
4. Beat the eggs. Roll the cutlets in the resulting mixture, then in flour and breaded in breadcrumbs.
5. Heat a frying pan with vegetable oil. Fry the cutlets over low heat on both sides until cooked.

Bluefish Kiev style is served with a combined side dish: boiled carrots, beets, green peas, pickled or salted vegetables.

“Bluefish shashlik”

Ingredients:

• onions – 3 heads;
• bluefish carcasses – 1 kilogram;
• vegetable oil – 30 milliliters;
• vinegar - 45 milliliters;
• lemon – 0.5 pieces;
• salt, pepper, herbs.

Cooking method:

1. Clean the fish from scales, remove the skin, remove the entrails, and rinse under water. Cut the fillet into pieces.
2. Peel the onion and cut into rings.
3. Prepare the marinade: mix pepper, salt, vinegar, onion. Roll the fish in the resulting mixture and leave in the refrigerator for an hour.
4. Place bluefish pieces on a skewer and grill in a pan or place on a grill rack.

Before serving, place the fish kebab in a dish, pour over melted butter, sprinkle with lemon juice, sprinkle with chopped onions and herbs.

"Bluefish Chow"

Ingredients:

• potatoes - 3 pieces;
• onion – 1 head;
• bluefish – 500 grams;
• parsley – 1 bunch;
• butter – 50 grams;
• water – 1.5 liters;
• carrots – 1 piece;
• bay leaf – 1 piece;
• salt, pepper, spices.

Cooking sequence:

1. Cut the fish, cook the broth.

The bluefish head is not used during the cooking process. It is believed that all harmful substances present in the reservoir accumulate in this part of the body.

1. Peel the vegetables.
2. Carrots, cut into strips, fry in butter.
3. Chop the parsley. Slice the potatoes.
4. Strain the broth. Remove the tail and rib bones. Add greens, onions, potatoes, and fried carrots to the broth. Cook the fish soup over low heat.
5. 10 minutes before readiness, add salt, pepper, season with butter.

The fish soup is served in portions: liquid is poured into each plate, pieces of fish are placed, and sprinkled with herbs.

Bluefish fish with a beautiful name: photo, description, how to cook

The Black Sea bluefish is a fish that can be recognized among millions of others by its elongated and slightly flattened body, covered with small round-shaped scales, with sharp spiny fins on the back. The tail of the fish is fork-shaped, the pairs of fins on the abdomen are small and short.

The color of the bluefish fish is dark on the back, light silver on the sides and whitish throughout the belly. This sea creature has a large head with a huge mouth, the lower jaw of which is pushed slightly forward.

Just from one type of bluefish you can understand that this is a predatory fish, and if you also take into account that its size can reach up to 140 cm in length and weight up to 15 kg, then you can begin to fear these representatives of the aquatic fauna. But you shouldn’t be afraid, bluefish is a fish with a beautiful name, which is completely safe and cannot cause any harm to swimmers or fishermen.

How to select and cut a mullet

Mullet is a favorite fish in Odessa home kitchens. The most delicious fish is caught in spring and autumn. The meat of the mullet is white, contains vitamins A, B and C, as well as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and many other useful microelements. Fish is justifiably dietary, because its calorie content does not exceed 130 kcal per 100 g of raw product, and its carbohydrate content is 0.

When purchasing frozen mullet, you should pay attention to the place where the fish was caught and the shelf life of the product. The packaging should not contain excess ice, which proves compliance with storage conditions. A quality mullet will have light colored eyes and gills and a tightly closed mouth.

Mullet should be defrosted without filling it with water, otherwise most of the beneficial substances will be lost forever. When cutting, it is necessary to remove the scales and entrails and rinse the carcass with cold water. The head of a cleaned mullet is cut off along with the gills and tail, and if necessary, cut into portions across the carcass.

Where are the bluefish found?

Bluefish are found at depths of 150-200 meters and usually live in schools. In summer, it often moves to river mouths and coastal areas, but with the onset of cold weather it returns to the sea, to its familiar environment.

Fishermen often call bluefish “Black Sea”, believing that they live in the Black Sea, however, these individuals can be seen not only in the indicated place. More than once the fish was spotted in the Kerch Strait, the Sea of ​​Azov, the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and even off the coast of Africa.

Depending on the time of year (season), atmospheric pressure in the water and air temperature, bluefish fish can either swim at great depths or rise almost to the surface of the reservoir.

Classic recipe for mullet soup

This homemade soup recipe was born in Odessa. The main condition is a rich broth. Therefore, you will have to work hard on it. Let's try to cook a real Odessa dish.

• Peel the carrots and onions and cut them in half. Leave one half of the vegetables whole. Cut the remaining part of the onion into large cubes, and half the carrot into slices.
• Place the heads with the gills removed and the tails of the mullet, a whole half of an onion and a carrot in a saucepan, add a bay leaf and fill it all with 1.5 liters of water. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.
• Strain the broth, bring to a boil again, add chopped carrots and cook for 5 minutes. Then add the chopped onion and cook for another 5 minutes. 

• Peel the potatoes, cut into large slices, add to the pan and cook for 10 minutes.
• Now it's the fish's turn. Dip large pieces of mullet into the broth and cook as long as needed until it is ready.
• Finely chop the parsley or dill and add it to the pan along with the spices. The fish soup is ready, but before serving it should sit for 10 minutes.

When preparing the broth, you can add 50 g of celery root to the onions and carrots.

To enhance the taste, you can add 1 tbsp along with the spices. seasonings for fish. You should pay attention to the presence of salt in the finished seasoning.

Chopped onions can be pre-fried in odorless vegetable oil. Then you should add it to the fish soup before adding spices and herbs.

To give the soup a thicker consistency, it is permissible to add 50 g of washed rice to the pan along with the potatoes.

When serving fish soup directly to the plate, you can add 1 tbsp. sour cream or 1 tsp. chopped raw onions.

A multicooker will greatly simplify the preparation of fish soup, since all the ingredients are placed in it at the same time, and the dish cooks faster.

How many products will be needed:

• mullet - 500 g;
• potatoes - 4 pcs.;
• carrots - 1 pc.;
• onion - 1 pc.;
• vegetable oil - 2 tbsp;
• bay leaf - 2 pcs.;
• greens, salt and pepper - to taste.

From this amount of products you will get 6 servings of fish soup.

Preparation:

1. Pre-prepare all the ingredients. Cut the fish into portions, removing the head and tail. Peel the vegetables. Cut onions and carrots into small cubes, potatoes into large ones.
2. Pour vegetable oil into the multicooker bowl, add onions and carrots and turn on for 5 minutes. “Frying” mode with the lid closed.
3. After this, add mullet, potatoes, bay leaves and spices and pour in 2 liters of hot water. Select the “Soup” or “Stew” mode, depending on the functions of the multicooker, and set the cooking time to 40 minutes.
4. After the signal that it is ready, you need to add finely chopped parsley or dill, cover with a lid and leave for another 5 minutes.

Time to prepare food - 30 minutes, cooking time - 50 minutes.

The calorie content of mullet fish soup in a slow cooker will be 112 kcal, the protein content is 9 g, fat is 5 g, carbohydrates are 10 g per 100 g of the finished dish.

Mullet dishes will take their rightful place in the healthy food menu in any kitchen. Tender and tasty white meat with a minimum of bones and a maximum of useful vitamins and microelements will appeal to all lovers of sea fish.

Dietitians recommend eating sea fish dishes at least 2 times a week.

Lifestyle

Bluefish spend most of their life underwater in schools. The number of fish in one such school can reach several thousand, but more often it ranges from 900 to one and a half thousand.

When hunting for prey, bluefish show unshakable passion. Seeing schools of smaller fish, these predators break up into small schools and quickly rush for prey. Having overtaken their prey, they jump after it, grab it in a jump and immediately eat it. After lunch, so to speak, the bluefish again gather into one large school and continue their movement under water.

Reproduction and spawning

Bluefish reach sexual maturity at four to five years of age, but some individuals are ready for spawning from the age of two years, while others, on the contrary, spawn in the eighth or ninth year. Fish spawn in warm, well-warmed water by the sun from the beginning of June to the end of August.

The female lays eggs in portions, which swim further into the open sea. Other underwater inhabitants often feed on caviar, and therefore their high fertility saves the population of bluefish in the sea. At one time, females lay several hundred eggs, and some of the largest individuals lay even more - up to a million eggs.

After two days, these eggs, if they manage to survive, hatch into floating tiny larvae, they are carried over vast distances with the help of fast currents, and then turn into full-fledged fish that grow quickly, although they do not mature too quickly for reproduction. Let us remind you once again that bluefish can begin to spawn only by the age of five.

Useful properties and contraindications

The benefits of bluefish for humans are enormous. The meat of these fish is tasty, low-fat, low-calorie and endowed with a number of healing microelements, vitamins and minerals. Being a constant part of the human diet, fish can influence:

• - on the composition of the blood, improves and renews it;
• - on metabolic processes, improves metabolism;
• - on bones and muscles, increases the strength of bone and muscle tissue;
• - on immunity, increases the protective functions of the body, its resistance to diseases;
• - on water balance, normalizes it;
• - on the cardiovascular system, restores blood pressure, improves heart function;
• - on the skin, nails, hair, nourishes them, makes them more beautiful and healthy.

Due to the content of iron and other nutrients, fish meat can, with its constant consumption, relieve anemia, improve blood flow and enrich the body with useful elements.

Contraindications:

• — individual intolerance to fish products;
• - liver problems;
• - for obesity;
• - diseases of the pancreas and stomach.

How to cook bluefish

Black Sea bluefish is a fish that is very loved by chefs all over the world. You can prepare a huge number of dishes from it, including lean, low-calorie dishes. World experts prepare bluefish fillet in batter, in a creamy sauce, on the grill, boil and stew the fish, bake it with cheese or with tomatoes, and add it to exotic salads.

Ordinary people at home bake bluefish in the oven, make fish soup (fish soups) from them, or fry them in a frying pan. Some of the meat of these fish is used to prepare minced cutlets, for filling dumplings or savory pastries and pies. Dense and tasty bluefish meat is excellent when salted, dried or canned.

In Russia, bluefish is sold frozen and the cost of such a seafood delicacy is not too high.

Source: https://kbs-ld.ru/lufar-chernomorskiy-retsept-prigotovleniya/