1 of the additional salient qualities of island living is the abundance of fresh seafood. Barbados is home to the flying fish, but there is also a wide range of fish caught within ten miles of the coast: Dolphin, Wahoo, Yellow Fin Tuna, Albacore (white tuna), Swordfish, Marlin, Barracuda, Sailfish or Billfish, Kingfish, Bonita or Skipjack, Shark, and Red Snapper to name just a few.
It should be noted for those concerned with such matters that the dolphin range found in Barbados is not of the bottlenosed SeaWorld specimen: It is the multi-colored, blunt nosed dolphin identified as Dorado or Mahi Mahi. And even though the White Marlin is a protected gamefish in the United States, there are no such regulations in the Caribbean.
Similarly, the Baraccuda is not a recognized food fish in North America due to a toxic impregnation called Ciguatera found in some species. Barracuda in the waters surrounding Barbados are absolutely free of this contamination. And yes, the flying fish do fly, propelling themselves from the water at speeds of up to 50 mph and then, spreading their dorsal fins to form wings, "fly" for distances in excess of 100 yards.
There are scores of fish sellers and fisherfolk in Barbados. The largest fish markets are located in Bridgetown close to the cruise ship port and in Oistins on the South Coast. Numerous smaller fish markets are located along both the South and West Coasts. Our individual favorite is the Weston fish industry in St. James that is the property of Smokey, fishmonger to the stars!
Sir Cliff Richard (who owns an elegant villa at Sugar Hill) as soon as arrived at the Weston Fish Market place with a television crew in tow in order to film Smokey at function for broadcast to millions of viewers in the UK. Smokey's clients are a who's who of the entertainment and enterprise globe. It is fascinating to watch Smokey expertly filet a Dolphin weighing upwards of 20 lb in minutes with his razor sharp machete. If the line at Smokey's is too lengthy, feel no cost to step next door to John Moore's Bar for a "onesie" exactly where the Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, is known to hold the occasional "cabinet meeting."
Ten pounds of yellow fin tuna will expense $60.00 or $30.00 US. Other varieties of fish have similar per pound pricing. Flying Fish, which is sold in quite a few of the neighboring stalls by a group of lovely ladies, is $12.00 (US$6.00) for 10 "ready bone" or ready to cook filets. Indicate no matter whether you want Smokey to "steak the fish" or to leave it whole with just the skin and bones removed. He will also include the fish head, chopped in to smaller pieces, unless he is instructed otherwise. Fish Head soup, or fish stock, is delicious---take household a fish head and give it a try!