Fish | Alabayou

The Gulf Coast is home to some of the most delicious fish worldwide. They provide bold flavor, but they're not always easy to catch. Some of them are found near the shore, while others lie deep below the surface. If you want to learn about some of the best fish on the gulf coast you came to the right place. The best fish to eat from the Gulf Coast is mullet. The best mullet come from the Alabama and Florida gulf coast. Mullet are delicious and work with just about any fish recipe. They are abundant and not subject to over fishing. This allows many restaurants to use mullet as an affordable locally wild caught fish on the menu at a low cost since there are no commercial quotas on mullet. I grew in the small town of Bayou La Batre, Alabama working on my grandfather shrimp dock. I've owned and ran seafood markets, restaurants, and cooked for many events specializing in seafood. Throughout this article, you'll learn interesting details about the best fish to eat from the Gulf Coast. This list is my personal opinion and the only way to find your favorite fish from the gulf coast is to get out there and try them. Gag Grouper According to 30a, gag grouper is known for its light flavor, making it an excellent selection for people who don't prefer strong fish flavors. Light seasonings go a long way with such a subtle taste. Gag Groupers range between a couple of pounds when they're younger, all the way up to 50 pounds. They can live as long as 30 years. Gags eat a variety of fish, crabs, shrimp, and squid. Puppy Drum (Small Black Drum) Puppy drum is a black drum that is 7lbs or less. Puppy drum are often found inshore in the bays and sounds. Fiddler carbs and blue crabs are the best bait to use to catch puppy drum. Many anglers maintain that black drum less than 7 pounds, cleaned and prepared properly, may be better than many of the so-called "choice" fish like snapper and grouper. T he name of the fish is taken from the noise that they make when contracting muscles. The sound is like the sound of a drum. A sweet firm white meat of large moist flakes. The meat is decadent with white firm flaky fillets. The light flavor isn't nearly as oily as other local species, but you'll still receive the delicious seafood taste. This was one my great grandmother's favorite fish fried. Check out our complete guide on how to fry fish. Most restaurants on the Gulf Coast serve puppy drum (black drum) and label them as red drum (red fish) because puppy drum are able to be commercially harvested. Many tourist believe they are eating blackened red fish when in New Orleans but in most cases it is puppy drum. Snook Snook hang around docks, ship wreckage, and other covered areas. They prefer lurking in the dark so they can attack their prey without being seen. These fish chow on sardines, shrimp, mullet, and other small fish found locally on the Gulf Coast. Snook is a white fish with a excellent flavor due to it diet of crustaceans and small fish. I highly recommend removing the skin from snook fillets as the skin has a strong flavor and many find it off putting. Snooks can get quite large, so make sure you have enough muscle to pull them out of the water. They've been known to grow up to 50 pounds (22.68 kilograms) or more. White Trout White trout are also known as sand trout are smaller than there cousin the speckled trout but pack way more flavor. You can catch countless white trout and freeze them for many weeks or months. They're one of the few fish that don't lose their flavor when thawed. White Trout is one the best fish to use if hosting a fish fry. It frys up to a nice crisp and has amazing flavor that is sure to in impress any crowd. Check out our article on what is a fish fry? and you will be hosting your own fish frys frying up some amazing white trout. Mullet My favorite fish to eat on this list is Mullet! Mullet are tough to catch with a hook 'n' line, but you've probably seen them jumping around everywhere throughout the Gulf Coast. Even if you get a bite, they often slip off since they have soft lips that don't stay hooked. The best way to catch mullet is either with a cast net or gill net. You can catch mullet near the shore, especially when you're casting off a dock or extended landing area. Mullet is one the most delicious fish complete with essential vitamins, fatty acids, and contains five to six times more omega 3 than white fish. There is no wrong way to cook this fish its great fried, baked, canned, and Smoked. Smoked mullet is a delicacy on the Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi gulf coast. Many people in Texas and Louisiana look at mullet as the rat of the ocean and only use them as bait. That's because mullet are not a predator fish and eat microscopic plankton and algae from the bottom of the water. The taste of the mullet depends on the bottom of the water the sandier the bottom the better tasting the fish is. Texas and Louisiana have very muddy bottoms in there bays and gulf due to the Mississippi river which reflects on the taste of the mullet. So make sure you get you mullet from Alabama or Florida. However, you prefer the preparation, be sure to Eat More Mullet! Flounder The two most common type of flounder found on the gulf coast are southern flounder and gulf flounder. Flounder is loved by many seafood lovers. Flounder has white meat and a light mild flavor. Flounder are often enjoyed baked and broiled whole stuffed with crab-meat dressing. Flounder is perfect for those who don't enjoy a strong seafood taste. One of the best past times on the gulf coast is to go gigging for flounder at night. Yellowfin Tuna Yellowfin tuna are some of the biggest, heaviest fish on the list. They can reach up to 400 pounds (181.44 kilograms), though most of them are between 50 to 300 pounds (22.68 to 136.08 kilograms). Regardless of how big the tuna is, you'll need a big boat to haul them. Yellowfin Tuna steaks seared on woodfire grill is one the finest meals one can enjoy using a fish from the gulf coast. Tuna is known for having loads of protein, making it one of the best fish for people looking to improve their health. It's also full of fatty acids that promote heart health. Use chum to attract yellowfin tuna, then reel them in with trolling lures. Red Snapper Much like a few other fish above, snappers can be found at varying depths. Some of them live up to 300 feet (91.44 meters) Snapper should be seasoned similarly to salmon. Use lots of lemon, pepper, and garlic to bring out the seafood flavors. These bright pink and reddish fish weigh between five to forty pounds, so make sure you bring the right fishing gear if you want to get a big one. Mahi Mahi Mahi Mahi is another popular fish you've probably heard of. They prefer warm water around the southern US, throughout the Atlantic Ocean, and near the coast of Africa. These fish swim around shipwrecks, docks, floating debris, weed lines, and currents with warm water. They enjoy remaining hidden without getting too cold. Troll between two to nine knots for the best results. When you hook a Mahi Mahi, expect a fight. They're easy to see due to their bright colors, but they don't make it easy. They love to jump around, swim far away, and rip as hard as possible. However, they're well worth the effort. Use lemon, garlic, and sesame seeds to season the Mahi Mahi when you bring it home. Pompano Pompano aren't the biggest fish on the Gulf Coast, so you don't need to use massive bait. Instead, you can rely on small frozen shrimp and sand fleas. You'll enjoy catching this fish if you don't want to boat too far off the coast. They hang around shallow surfs so they can eat small seafood and fleas. Start fishing for pompano in the fall, then work your way down the coast as the year moves on. Angler Within suggests pompano enjoy the warm water, which means they won't stay in the same place when it gets cold. Winter isn't the best time to find them, but spring is often a challenge because it takes a while to warm up. If you stay near Florida, you'll have the best luck. Gray Triggerfish It is a popular game fish that is known for its distinctive, spiky appearance and its strong fighting ability. The gray triggerfish has a flat, oval-shaped body that is typically gray or brown in color, with a white belly. It has a large, triangular head with a protruding lower jaw, and it has several rows of sharp, spiky teeth. It has a strong, muscular body and is known for its powerful swimming ability. Overall, the gray triggerfish is a popular and sought-after species among sport fishermen and seafood enthusiasts. It is known for its distinctive appearance and its strong fighting ability, and it is considered to be a good food fish. Croaker Croaker are abundant in the gulf and offer amazing flavor. Many sport fishermen frown upon eating of croaker but any true fishermen know that croaker make a fine meal. Croaker provide a sweet taste and are best cooked whole. The corker is smallest species of the drum family and is closely related to the black drum and red drum. They make a loud, deep, croaking noise (hence their unique name), so don't be alarmed if you hear it when you pull them from the water. Thankfully, croakers are quite small and lightweight. Beginners shouldn't have a problem reeling them in once they're hooked. Greater Amberjack Another hot fish on the Gulf Coast is the greater amberjack. These beautiful fish are best on the grill basting with lots of butter. The flavor is match up between tuna and mahi mahi. Amberjacks live under rocky regions, reefs, wrecks, and other covered parts of the Gulf Coast. They enjoy staying hidden, despite their massive size. However, they've been known to throw people around who don't have firm footing. Hogfish Hogfish get their name from their unsightly appearance that mimics a pig. They're bulky and fatty, but you'll enjoy the unique flavor profile. Islamorada Times ranks hogfish as the best-tasting fish off the coast of Florida. They recommend using lemon, tomatoes, basil, and plenty of herbs when cooking this fish. Spanish Mackerel Spanish Mackerel are typically silver or green in color, with a metallic sheen, and have a long, slender body. They are a popular game fish and are often caught by anglers using bait or lures. They can also be found in markets and restaurants, where they are typically served grilled or fried. Spadefish Spadefish, also known as the angelfish or the scrawled cowfish. It is a popular game fish that is known for its distinctive, spade-shaped body and its strong fighting ability. The spadefish has a flat, oval-shaped body. It has a large, triangular head with a protruding lower jaw, and it has several rows of sharp, spiky teeth. It has a strong, muscular body and is known for its powerful swimming ability. Overall, the spadefish is a popular and sought-after species among sport fishermen and seafood enthusiasts. It is known for its distinctive appearance and its strong fighting ability, and it is considered to be a great table fair. Sheepshead Sheepshead, also known as the convict fish poor man snapper , or the sheephead porgy, is a species of saltwater fish that is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. It is a popular game fish that is known for its distinctive, sheep-like appearance and its strong fighting ability. Sheepshead is one of the best tasting fish on the Gulf Coast. It can be prepared by searing, pan frying, or baking. Sheepshead is a great substitute for blue crab lump meat. They have human-like teeth because of their diet of shellfish they use these teeth to crack the shells. They have a moist, firm, and sweet shellfish taste. Loaded with lots of healthy vitamins, fatty acids, and essential omega 3, you cannot find a healthier sweet fish! Whiting Whiting, also known as Gulf Kingfish and ground mullet, is found throughout the gulf coast. Whiting is another favorite fish to fry on the gulf coast. Gulf kingfish are found in a variety of marine environments, including coral reefs, rocky shores, and sandy bottoms. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat a variety of prey, including crabs, mollusks, and small fish. They are typically found in water that is less than 200 feet deep, and they are most commonly found in the subtropical and tropical regions of the Gulf of Mexico. Gulf kingfish are popular among sport fishermen and commercial fisherman, and they are considered to be great table fare Yellowtail Snapper Yellowtail snappers are some of Florida's most popular fish to catch and eat. Yellowtail snappers are quite small and typically found under ten pounds (4.54 kilograms). They live in shallow water near reefs, which might make you think they're easy to catch. However, they love darting around randomly to stay out of harm's way. Black Fish Black fish is often called triple tail is an amazing fish to eat. It is a popular game fish that is known for its distinctive, triangular tail and its strong fighting ability. The tripletail fish has a long, slender body that is typically dark brown or black in color, with a white belly. It has a large, triangular tail that is divided into three lobes, which gives it its distinctive appearance. It has a small head and a small, pointed mouth, and it has a single, long dorsal fin. Overall, the tripletail fish is a popular and sought-after species among fishermen and seafood enthusiasts. It is known for its distinctive appearance and its strong fighting ability, and it is considered to be a good food fish. Conclusion Now that you know the best Gulf Coast fish to eat, you can plan your day, week, or month around these delicious picks. Despite their close proximity, almost every fish on the Gulf Coast has a unique flavor. Try as many as possible to see what meals you'll come up with next.