Fottocini

Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps

I was shooting a gumbo dish for a Negra Modelo ad tonight and had the opportunity to photograph the chef breaking down a Golden Tilefish. Executive Sous Chef Kris Weimer at the Lodge at Sea Island tells me the fish was caught from Cape Canaveral area and usually goes for about 9-10$ per pound. It was a very fatty fish, leaving a opaque film of fat on the fish knife after cutting.

Chef Kris eventually portioned out the filets for the cryovac, and prepared one for a special. The fish was very moist, almost had butter like texture, with a nice crust from the sear. I would recommend trying this fish if you have the chance, its quite flavorful as well. Chef serves the fish on top of a ragu of local beans and fish stock, and fresh vegetables.

If you can’t find this particular fish then Amberjack, Tilapia, Grouper, Shark, or Snapper, would be a recommended substitute.

Chef Kris Weimer working with the Tilefish

The golden tilefish is easily distguishable fom other members of the family Malacanthidae by the large adipose flap, or crest, on the head. The species is blue-green and iridescent on the back, with numerous spots of bright yellow and gold. The belly is white and the head is rosy, with blue under the eyes. The pectoral fins are sepia-colored, and the margin of the anal fin is purplish-blue.

Tilefish inhabit the outer continental shelf and upper continental slope along the entire east coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico south to Venezuela. They are found in waters from 250-1,500 feet deep, where bottom temperatures range from 49° to 58° F. Individuals live in cone-shaped burrows, and concentrate in small groups or pods. Females are smaller than males, although whether or not the species displays hermaphrodism is unknown. Sexual maturity is reached when fish are about 27 inches long and weigh about 9 pounds. Spawning occurs from March to September, and females lay from 2-8 million pelagic eggs. Tilefish feed during the day on the bottom on crustaceans, clams, snails, worms, anemones and sea cucumbers. They can reach lengths of 38 inches, although growth is slow.

Adults weigh an average of 10-25 pounds.

The golden tilefish is the most colorful fish with a blue-green back that fades to a pearly white belly. It is touched with red and blue iridescence, highlighted by irregular yellow-gold spots and ocean-blue under the eyes.

Along the southeastern coast and in the Gulf, tilefish live in burrows and sometimes congregate in pods or small groups at depths ranging from 200 to more than 1,400 feet.

The predominant fishing method is longlining with the greatest catch taken during the daylight hours.

As tilefish become larger they tend to live at greater depths.

Adults weigh an average of 10-25 pounds.

Techinical data courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.