Fish ID, would you want it?

[Shananagans]

My friends are crabbing in NJ today and sent me this pic.

They asked if I want to keep it. It got caught in a crab cage. I know it is a puffer. Anyone know the name, and would you want it? They have it in a bucket, and they are jsut waiting for me to call them back.

Let me know asap.

THANKS.

 

[INNEED]

i'd say throw him back he prob wont even make it in captivity

 

[knugenx]

if you know how to cut and prep it...very delicious (had it once as a kid, a mate on the boat helped us carefully cut it so that the bladder doesn't rupture (poisonous in Japan waters)...otherwise throw it back in.

 

[Shananagans]

I figured. I googled it real quick and apparently they are common this time of year around our area, and a few ppl mentioned eating them. I am also it would not do well in our warmer tank temps.

 

[Paul B]

It is a common northern blowfish or puffer. About 40 years ago you could not drop a hook in New York waters without catching one of them.
They disappeared for a couple of decades and now they are back, but not in the Sound very much. You can catch them 1/4" long in a net on the south shore and are very common. They will live in a tank and grow very fast while eating everything else in the tank in no time. They will eat any meaty food like clams, shrimp or worms. They bite also.

if you know how to cut and prep it...very delicious

My family had a sea food market and we would sell them as "Chicken of the Sea"
They don't sell the whole fish because as was pointed out, very poisonous but the tails are delicious.

 

[Shananagans]

Good info. Well it sounds like no one will want it. When Iget a min I call them and tell them to let it go.