Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Just curious?

Why is it you never see bluegill fillets for sale at the supermarket? My wife and I were just discussing this the other day. I have seen just about everything else at one time or another, but never bluegill. The big ones are easy to fillet, and taste good. Sorry if this sounds dumb, but It's driving me crazy!

It's all about feed conversion ratio. Tilapia, channel catfish and trout can all convert properly prepared diets into growth. THis makes them econimically choices for folks to raise and sell at a good price. It is expensive to grow a bluegill to a size you can fillet. Also high mortaility in aquaculture would raise price. my 2 cents

In the latitudes in which rainbow trout, channel catfish and tilapia are raised it is possible to bring fish to market size in a single growing season. Excellent growth rates and feed conversion of these fish prevents the need to overwinter fish which is expensive. Bluegill can take at least two and maybe three full growing season to reach sizes preferred by restaurants and super markets. This gouges an already razor thin margin for growers. Older fish also have a much higher number of parasites which doesn't always appeal to the typical female purchaser.

Well maybe not in your area but around here you do! (Indiana, Midwest) They command a very high price in regions of the country where they are available and consumers want them. Some parts of the country consider them trash fish (New England)* There are more and more growers growing them in RAS's (Recirculating Aqauculture Systems) and ponds, and at least some of what we have in a local chain store are wild gillnet caught bluegill and pumpkinseed by probably Indian netters. One of the problems with growing bluegills is they mature sexually before they reach optimum market size which slows their growth down, and of course as mentioned above they don't reach market size typically in one year or less. (At least I don't think you can get them to, but I will have to check)

Here's an interesting link to find out more about the potential of sunfish culture for the food market:

http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/aquanic/ncrac/wpapers/sunfish32900.htm

*If you want to think you died and went to bluegill heaven go fishing for bluegills in New England in bodies of water that have them. You will catch so many bluegills you may even get bored, it's so easy. The locals will laugh at you for catching those "kivers" or "sunnys." What a blast on the beds with panfish jigs or a fly rod! Scenery is beautiful too!

I used to go out every summer and after keeping over 200 big bluegills a day and filleting until 2 A.M. I backed off on how many I kept!

Thanks for the replies. I knew there had to be a reason. Cecil, how much do they go for a pound where your at?

I can't remember but I could have sworn I saw them at over $10.00 per pound maybe as high as $16.00 per pound. Before anybody gets excited about seining their pond remember you have to be a regular supplier that can promise so many pounds weekly.