24-9-2023 (ALASKA) Joe Chmeleck, a fisherman who runs the “Otter Beach Cabin” in Homer, Alaska, recently shared astonishing photos on social media of a unique catch – a longline rock greenling. When he cut open the fish, he discovered that its flesh had a striking bright blue color, making it an extraordinary find. What surprised him even more was that when he sliced and skinned the fish and deep-fried it, the flesh transformed from blue to pure white. He documented the process and shared it on social media, describing the taste of this fish as similar to trout.
The rare longline rock greenling is primarily found along the northern Pacific coast, ranging from California to Alaska. It feeds on marine worms, crustaceans, and small fish and has the unique characteristic of changing its appearance based on its environment. This fish can exhibit a range of colors, including brown, red, orange, and green. It measures approximately 24 inches (about 61 centimeters) in length and weighs around 1.83 pounds (about 830 grams). However, there is currently insufficient data to determine the mercury content in this species, so its suitability for human consumption remains uncertain.
For educational purposes! this is a rock greenling I caught this a month ago and it is definitely one of a kind! The blue coloration is caused by a bile pigment called Biliverdin, very interesting species. #education pic.twitter.com/y2eXwDxKPQ
— Kyle (@OaksKyle) September 18, 2023
