How Big Do Blueline Tilefish Get?

35 inches long.
Blueline tilefish can grow to be 35 inches long and live up to 26 years. Males can grow larger than females. Female blueline tilefish mature when they are about 3 years old. They can spawn year-round, but peak spawning is in May.

How big is a tile fish?

Tilefish grow slowly, up to 43 inches, although the average size harvested is 24 inches. They have a long life span, up to 46 years (females) and 39 years (males).

What does tilefish taste like?

Tilefish yield thick fillets with a row of pinbones. The raw meat is pinkish-white but cooks up white with a firm, flaky texture. The flavor is mild but distinctive, often compared to lobster or crab, which is not surprising, since the tilefish’s diet is largely crustaceans.

What is the best bait for tilefish?

Tilefish are cave-dwelling bottom-huggers, and you want those baits where they can be found. This crew prefers squid, crabs, herring and strips of bonito or barracuda. (Tilefish certainly love squid, but I prefer fresh cut bait because I know it’ll stay on the hooks after plunging deep).

What is the season for tilefish in Florida?

Typically, the blueline tilefish season is open May 1 – Aug. 31 in Atlantic state and federal waters. However, NOAA Fisheries projects that the recreational catch limit will be met by July 26 and is closing the fishery to prevent overfishing from occurring.

Is blueline tilefish good eating?

Tilefish are fun for anglers to both locate and battle to the surface from far below. Beyond catching them, both the blueline and golden tilefish are great for eating.

Is tilefish high in mercury?

Golden tilefish, a bottom dwelling fish living at the edge of the continental shelf, has high mercury concentrations averaging about 1 part per million, enough for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to include this species among the four groups that warrant greatest concern.

How healthy is tilefish?

Tilefish are low in sodium. They are a good source of niacin and phosphorus, and a very good source of protein, vitamin B12, and selenium.

Why do tilefish have so much mercury?

Almost all fish have some mercury, but the largest fish, including tilefish, swordfish, and shark, usually have the highest levels of mercury because they live longer than smaller fish and have more time to accumulate it.

What fish is tilefish similar to?

DESCRIPTION. The tilefish family resembles the sea bass family in general appearance. Six species occur along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Two species, the golden tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) and the blueline or gray tilefish (Caulolatilus microps), are fairly plentiful in Florida waters.

How deep do you fish for tilefish?

600-800 foot
We’re typically fishing from 600-800 foot depths and require 4-6 lb lead to hold bottom. You know you’re over the right type of bottom if you can feel your lead weight stick in the mud, load the rod, and then release from the mud. Ideally you want to bounce the bottom, to stir up sediment and draw the tile’s attention.

What size hooks for tilefish?

The 8/0 circle hook is an ideal size hook for blueline tilefish, grouper, snapper, golden tilefish, blackbelly rosefish, barrelfish, Red Snapper. If you are targeting smaller snapper, from the 2-5lb range, we offer a similar deep drop rig in a smaller 6/0 size.

Where can I find blueline tilefish?

All you need to locate bluelines is a patch of hard or live bottom, virtually anywhere off the Atlantic coast. In fact, good numbers of bluelines are present up to the Hudson Canyon area, and they’ve been caught all the way up off of Maine.

What is a blue line tilefish?

The blueline tilefish is a bottom dweller found in water ranging from 240-780 feet deep, from Virginia to the Campeche Banks of Mexico. It is frequently found in the same habitat as groupers and snappers, preffering irregular bottom with sand, mud and shell hash.

How much does tilefish cost?

Our Price: $31.95
Approximately 1 pound per package.

What is the world record golden tilefish?

65 pounds, 3 ounces
The International Game Fish Association all-tackle world record golden tilefish (also called great northern tilefish) stands at 65 pounds, 3 ounces. It was caught off New Jersey in 2012. Feldhaus’ fish measured 44.5 inches total length (from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail) and had a 33.75-inch girth.

Is tilefish similar to grouper?

This white fish has earned the nickname “poor man’s grouper” for good reason. The flavor is mild and sweet, with a firm texture. This fish is a wonderful gateway for novice chefs looking to explore new species. It is easy to prep and tastes familiar to many customers.

Why is the FDA warning on the tilefish from the Gulf?

This fish is on the mercury warning list based on one set of Gulf of Mexico samples, which are highly suspect, as tilefish do not fit the high mercury profile. Even the FDA admits Great Northern Tilefish from the Atlantic are safe, with a mercury content of 0.144 ppm, well within safe limits.

What happens if you eat tilefish?

Don’t eat: Tilefish
Even though the tilefish population is healthy, thanks to some responsible wildlife management by NOAA, they’re still susceptible to overfishing. Additionally, the mercury levels in tilefish are elevated to the point where they’re not safe to eat.

What is the healthiest fish to eat?

The top 10 healthy fish to include in your diet:

1. Salmon. Salmon is versatile and one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acid, which is essential as the body cannot make it on its own so it must be obtained through food.
2. Mackerel.
3. Cod.
4. Trout.
5. Sardines.
6. Crab.
7. Haddock.
8. Tuna.

What fish should you not eat?

Text Versions of the Best Choices, Good Choices, and Choices to Avoid Lists of Fish

Fish	Best Choice, Good Choice, or Choice to Avoid?
Swordfish	Choice to Avoid: HIGHEST MERCURY LEVELS
Tilefish (Gulf of Mexico)	Choice to Avoid: HIGHEST MERCURY LEVELS
Tuna, bigeye	Choice to Avoid: HIGHEST MERCURY LEVELS