Juvenile red drum spend their first few years in bays and other shallower areas, places biologists dub вЂњsurf zones,вЂќ which are really just tidal areas near passes and jetties. To first understand why this phenomenon occurs, you simply need to look at the life cycle of this most sought-after species across the Gulf and on the Atlantic Ocean side of the East Coast in Florida and the Carolinas.

October is big redfishtime in the Lone Star State, with the annual fall migration of big bull reds underway as those fish head from our multitude of bay systems into the Gulf to spawn. Enjoy straight from the bowl with a beer, over a bed of hot rice, or stuffed inside a taco.Texas has its own running of the bulls each fall and the most savvy of anglers know that when itвЂ™s time to lock horns with a beast, you need look no farther than manmade passes that intersect the Gulf of Mexico for a stampede of fishing action. It will likely become a favorite in your family too. Once you have your tuna, you are ready to make your own Hawaiian style poke. Be sure to thaw it out completely before adding your seasoning. If frozen tuna is your only option, give it a try. It is a lot less expensive and easier to find in places that might not have a great seafood selection. Bigger grocery stores might not really know or share truthfully-I would always go with a local fish market if you have access to one.Д¤) I never buy frozen tuna when I am making poke but I do know that many of the fish cases in Hawaii sell poke made with previously frozen tuna. Smaller fish markets will know this information and will gladly share. I always find out where the fish is caught and when it was brought in. If it smells very fishy, I wouldn't use it for making poke.ДЈ) Ask Questions. If you are at a fish counter, ask the fish monger if you can smell it before you buy. Tuna doesn't smell very fishy if it is fresh. Look for nice moist fish with a pink color.Дў) Smell. Tuna should not be brownish red or brownish at all. Dried out and discolored, but people still buy it. I have seen tuna in fish cases here that look horrible. It is considered poor man's sushi.ДЎ) Color and Appearance. In fact, on the commercial fishing boats that both Aaron and I worked on, the fish bits remaining after cutting up a fish for sashimi was what they would use to make poke. Although prices have gone up locally, I can usually find good quality tuna at Whole Foods. You don't need to spend $25.00-30.00 per pound on sashimi grade tuna-just look for a nice cut of yellowfin or bigeye tuna. Albacore and skipjack tend to be a bit more fishy than the other species. Albacore and skipjack are usually made into canned products, but if you have a very fresh fish can be used for poke as well. Most commonly found in the seafood markets are the bigeye tuna or yellowfin tuna-and both make a great poke. They are saved for the most upscale and prestigious restaurants. It is very unlikely that you will find bluefin in any local market. Recently, ONEВ bluefin tuna sold for 1.7 million dollars. Bluefin tuna, is the highest grade and is also overfished worldwide and very expensive. A few different species are considered tuna and in the sushi market they are ranked by grade. Depending on where you live, finding fresh tuna might be more of an issue. I'll be making it spicy, with other types of fish, and even vegetarian.ДЄll of the ingredients for our basic poke recipe can be found at most grocery stores. Today, I am sharing our basic recipe for ahi tuna poke (ahi is the Hawaiian word for tuna) but in the coming days I will share some variations-there is just so much you can do with this. It is easily made to suit Paleo and Whole 30 lifestyles and is great for pescatarians. The flavors are so amazing and the the taste is fresh and light. Though we love sushi and sashimi, poke really is where our heart is. Sawyer, who became vegetarian last year, will not give up his poke. Last year, Aaron's new year's resolution was to eat more raw fish. When we were on Kauai last year, we ate poke at every meal. If we can find the fresh tuna, we make this at least once a week because we just love it so much. Hawaiian Tuna Poke is one of our favorite recipes.

One of the reasons we started this website was to develop the recipes we miss so much and share them with the world. So many cultures come together to create such amazing food. If you have never been, Hawaii is a food lovers paradise. Since moving from Hawaii, food has been an issue for us, specifically lack of the amazing flavors and diversity of food in Hawaii. Hawaiian tuna poke is one of the things we miss most about Hawaii.

Recipe for bluetail fish