Gary's Seafood Specialties

"Famous By Word Of Mouth"

Florida Seafood

Catfish, Lake Okeechobee - Clams, Cedar Key - Cobia - Crabs, Florida Stone Crabs - Dolphin - Escolar - Flounder - Frog Legs - Golden Tile - Grouper, Black - Grouper, Red - Grouper, Scamp - Grouper, Snowy - Grouper, Wreck - Grouper, Yellow Edge - Kingfish - Lobster, Spiny Lobster - Mahimahi - Pompano - Sheephead - Shrimp, Head On, Fresh - Shrimp, Rock Shrimp - Snapper, Atlantic Lane - Snapper, Beeliner - Snapper, Brazilian - Snapper, Dog - Snapper, Genuine American Red - Snapper, Hog - Snapper, Mangrove - Snapper, Margate - Snapper, Mutton - Snapper, Porgy - Snapper, Yelloweye - Snapper, Yellow Tail - Sturgeon, Mote Marine Aquarium - Swordfish - Tuna, Albacore - Tuna, Bluefin - Tuna, Yellowfin - Trigger Fish - Tripletail - Wahoo

Click Here For a Chart Of Availability

(Everything is subject to government regulations and weather)

Golden Tilefish

Lopholatilus Chamaeleonticps

The Malacapthidae Family of fish is widely spread throughout the globe and lives in temperate waters. Of the six species that live along the east coast of The United States, two species are prominent in the water off the Florida coast. These species include: The Golden Tilefish (Lopholatius Chamaeleonticps) and the Gray Tilefish (Caulolatius Microps). Of the two, the Golden Tilefish is the more prized due in part to the quality of the meat, but also because it is an extremely beautiful fish.

These fish live at fairly extreme depths in the Ocean. In fact, they weren’t even discovered until 1879. Adults usually weigh anywhere from 10-25#. The larger the fish get, the deeper the water they seek to live in.

Tilefish live along the southeast coast and Gulf of Mexico in burrows and congregate in pods. Tilefish do not school, but it is not uncommon for them to form clusters near the continental shelf, or undersea canyons. The warm water of the Gulf Stream flowing through the area makes it an ideal place for them to live.

This fish has very high levels of Mercury, and should be avoided by women that are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or that are nursing. Healthy adults can safely enjoy this fish in moderation.

During my research, I read a lot of references to the flesh tasting like lobster, shrimp and scallops, as they do eat a diet of crustaceans. I have cooked many pounds of Golden and Gray Tilefish throughout my career, and would never make this connection. If I were to compare it to anything it would be Snapper. I do like this fish very much, and if you work closely with your seafood purveyor, you can often get this fish at a very reasonable price.

Although this fish is caught commercially in Florida using longlining (mainly during daylight), most of the fish is sold to restaurants in New York and Boston. I have read that this is a very popular fish with the Japanese for making sashimi.

Click Here For A "Printer Friendly" Version