Seasonal News

Dungeness crab season is open from half moon bay through Monterey. The season opening from Ft. Bragg through Washington has been delayed until December 31, 2005 (the crabs are not full enough).

Mahi-Mahi season is in full swing. High production should continue through March. Prices are a great value.

The Mexican Shrimp season closes in January; this is the last chance to make a large buy of wild shrimp. The farmed product will remain available throughout the year.

The tsunami in Thailand last December destroyed the majority of the tiger shrimp hatcheries. These Hatcheries are being replaced with Vannamei white shrimp. The only problem will be that farms do not appear to be growing the shrimp larger than 26/30. Watch availability and pricing on 21/25 and larger tigers.

The sole fishery in Washington, Oregon, and California opens again at the first of the year. Fishing quotas are lower the last year.

Rock shrimp fishery is in bad shape due to the hurricane activity last fall. Many production facilities were destroyed and fishing areas are still in upheaval.

Swordfish is still being caught locally in California.

Shortage of Thailand Squid products and Squid tubes in General. (Also due in part to the tsunami last year)

SHRIMP ALERT
If you are being quoted shrimp prices that seem too good to be true…
1. Weigh the shrimp (to test accurately: wash away ice, but do not thaw the shrimp).
2. Count the number of shrimp in the box and divide by the weight of the box (usually four to five pounds) to determine the average number of shrimp per pound.