iStockphoto / Dee
A fisherman in Alaska caught a rare fish that has electric blue flesh and looks like an exotic tropical fish.
The rare catch is a Rock Greenling fish which is a pretty unremarkable name for such a spectacular-looking specimen. Greenlings are found in the Eastern Pacific ocean from the Bering Sea in the north on down to Southern California. Notably, none of that coastline is tropical yet this fish looks like a specimen found on an exotic tropical reef.
The fish was caught by Joe Chmeleck in Homer, Alaska. Joe owns The Lodge at Otter Cove in Homer, a fishing lodge for people from the Lower 48 looking for the Alaskan fishing adventure of a lifetime, and he proudly shared this incredible catch on social media after catching it late last month.
The bright blue flesh looks like the opera singer from The Fifth Element. And though it starts electric blue, he also shared a video of the bright blue fish fillets being cooked and they slowly turn to white.
I simply cannot get over those vibrant colors. It is one of the most beautiful fish I’ve ever seen and one I’d certainly not expect to be caught in Alaska. Fiji? Sure. Tanzania? Seems right. Homer, Alaska? How?!
Electric Blue Rare Rock Greenling Fish Turns White When Cooked
In a video posted to YouTube, the fish can be seen turning from blue to white when cooked.
Joe Chmeleck shared that the Rock Greenling fish was caught in 40ft of water. Chmeleck also said approximately 1-in-40 of these Rock Greenling fish they catch are blue.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist Donald Arthur spoke with Alaska’s News Source. He says the blue coloration is “caused by a green bile pigment called Biliverdin” and it is also found in lingcod. It is, however, unclear why fish produce this blue/green pigment.
Joe Chmeleck said the fish “was absolutely fantastic.” He did note that previously they were afraid of it potentially being poisonous but the species is perfectly safe and delicious after being cooked.