Icelandic Fish
Availability and cost structure remain stable.
 
Rainbow Trout
We are seeing shorts with this entire category. This is due to lack of harvest because they are letting fish grow since the heat is causing them not to eat as much. It should be up to sustainable levels again sometime in Q4. Bringing in some frozen to try and compensate.
 
Hawaiian Kanpachi
Stable in price, great availability this week. Excellent fat content for a silky raw preparation or a buttery cooked preparation for a unique center-of plate option.
 
Atlantic Halibut
The market is stable at a very nice price point with great availability. These fish are large, 50-85lbs, and from Nova Scotia, Canada.

Pacific Halibut
The pacific fish will remain more expensive than their Atlantic counterparts as is typical. Fish this week are from Petersburg and Sitka, both in Southeast Alaska.

Wild King Salmon
We have net-caught Kings from the Puget Sound in Washington. These net kings are in their prime runs for the year and most affordable through the next couple weeks.

Wild Coho Salmon
Our Coho this week are from the Copper River all week long, including the h/on fish. This is a prized origin for higher fat content and the care taken by local fishermen when handling the fish.

Sablefish aka Black Cod
Beautiful black cod is landing from Neah Bay, WA. Availability should improve this month and into next, however the price remains high.
 
Grouper    
Large black grouper market continues to be more affordable as production in Central and South America continues. Availability for the week is limited to start then better supply expected for the weekend. Current inventory consists of hook and line caught product harvested in Costa Rica & Panama.
Beautiful Florida red grouper landing all week. Limited amounts of yellow edge grouper in the cooler
 
Snappers   
A bit limited early week due to domestic boats being in for the holiday, but the cooler should be refilled for the weekend. Bliners look to be extremely limited this week after being flooded last week with heavy landings. Yellow tails, Lanes, American red snappers all expected for the weekend.
 
Tuna-
Stunning cherry red Yellowfins landing from Louisiana, Costa Rica, & Ecuador this week. Nice large Yellowfins in house with new landings most days. Prices finally ease a little. Local Bluefins coming in from Cape Cod Mass with beautiful cherry red color as well. These larger cherry red tunas are in higher demand. Great grilling fish option!
 
Sword-
Nice double & triple marker swords arriving from Ocean City Md, Canada, Costa Rica & Ecuador this week. Prices are really down this week due to high volumes of landings from Canada & the Caribbean. Great grilling fish option at very affordable prices!
 
Specialty Products
 
Ocean Greens
Sea Beans, a delicious, snappy, and salty vegetable that grows in the seaside tidal flats of coastal Maryland, will be in season for a little while longer. Get them while you can! Harvests typically cease in the late summer to early fall, get them while you can!
 
Half-Shell Frozen Shellfish
Rappahannock Oyster Company (Topping, VA) brings us hassle-free frozen half-shells in a variety of flavors to support your menu with reduced labor options. Their own oysters—topped with Rockefeller mix or garlic parmesan butter—and Casino-style top-neck clams go straight to the oven with zero labor. Sold by the case; simply thaw on a tray in the cooler before service for best results.
Featured:
Rockefeller Oyster Roasters
Product of Virginia, Wild-harvested
OYF200
Topped with a Rockefeller mix and individually quick frozen. Sold by the case of 96 pieces.
 
Garlic Parmesan Oyster Roasters
Product of Virginia, Wild-harvested
OYF201
Topped with butter, garlic, parmesan, and individually quick froze. Sold by the case of 96 pieces.
 
Clams Casino Roasters
Product of Virginia, Wild-harvested
CLAF20
Topped with butter, breadcrumbs, red bell pepper, and individually quick frozen. Sold by the case of 144 pieces.

Live Lobsters
After weeks of consistency in both pricing structures and catch volumes, we have encountered our first increase in the Maine shore price. There is speculation that the increase could be short lived with processors and wholesalers taking a firm stance on not supporting prior to the fall run. Wholesalers continue to carry viable inventories with catch volumes remaining consistent for late summer fishing.
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Crabmeat - updates you need to know.
Fresh Crabmeat
Maryland- good crab landings this week as demand continues to be strong especially on jumbo lump. Plants will start to put up winter stock this month & next so talk to your sales rep for needs.
North Carolina – good landings & supply so far this week.
Venezuela - limited amounts of R/F lump in house but that will come to an end very soon. NOAA’s importing embargo of Venezuela began Jan 1st, prohibiting seafood imports from Venezuela & other countries if they can’t verify that no marine mammals are harmed by their fishing gear. Some countries have been cleared like Indonesia with catch reports & methods, yet Venezuela is still trying to get their approval. We are hopeful but currently have no indication on how long this will be or how long it will take NOAA to review & approve it, so we wait. There are plenty of alternative options available in the cooler to cover your needs.
Pasteurized Crabmeat
Blue Swimming Crab- This category continues to experience rapid price increases due to several factors: tariff impacts, poor landings in Indonesia all during very strong demand & of course the loss the Venezuelan & now Philippian crabmeat supply. As higher-priced containers arrive and inventories’ cost-average upward, pricing pressure is expected to continue. Most importers are facing limited availability, and the combination of weak landings, pressure at the beaches, and high demand is driving an extremely strong market. Expect ongoing supply constraints and rising prices throughout spring and summer.
Red Swimming Crab- High tariffs and poor landings have pushed prices sharply higher, particularly on jumbo lump and jumbo, with lump now following suit. Relief is not expected in the near term, as many buyers have shifted into this category seeking lower-cost alternatives.
Mexico- Mexican pricing has risen quickly as demand spilled over from the Indonesian market. Many have moved to this option. Pricing is following the Indo past market upward.
Colombian- Supply is extremely limited. Landings have been extremely small. Small volumes are available; check in.
 
Molluscs
Scallops
Maryland-raised Bay Scallops are taking a short harvest break to size up, and this includes both live scallops and half-shell flash frozen options. This is expected to be short until mid-October.
Clams
 
Mussels
Expect wild domestic mussels to not be available for the beginning of the week due to boats staying in to celebrate the holiday.
 
Oysters
Parts of Prince Edward Island will be on rain closure this week. We won't see our Malpeque or Salt Grass point Oysters until after that restriction is lifted.
Featured this week:
Pleasant Pearls
Damariscotta River, ME
OYS130
Perfectly manicured, select shells with a prominent brine that finishes sweet and smooth.
 
Sunken Meadow Gems
Sunken Meadow, Cape Cod, MA
OYS127
Some of the most beautiful cocktails in the Cape, deep savory brine, in a wooden box.

‍Always on Feature and only at JJ McDonnell:


Skinny Dipper & Huckleberry Oysters
St Jerome’s Creek, MD
OYS200 & OYS060
For the best shell quality, quintessential Chesapeake flavor, and the cleanest oyster in town, choose Skinny Dippers for your printed menus. Always fresh and in stock! For a cocktail option, Huckleberry is a perfectly plump cocktail, and fun fact, they are the same age as a Skinny Dipper! Some oysters just never reach the size of a full, select oyster.
 
Happy Oysters
Northern Neck, VA
OYS250
Sweetgrass and butter with just enough brine and a clean finish. Tidal surges create a perfect environment for healthy, happy oysters!
 
Salt Buoy Oysters
Brockatonorton Bay, MD
OYS245
All of the salt you would expect from Maryland’s Atlantic coast, with a crab-like sweetness to finish. Float-raised cocktail shells are perfect for easy shucking.
 
Fortune Oysters
Wine Harbour, Eastern Nova Scotia
OYS218
A pop of salt from the North Atlantic! Smooth, salty, savory, and sweet meats in clean, solid, choice shells.

Domestic Shrimp

Hope all had a nice Labor Day. Prices have held steady with some exception of the middle-sized PUD/P&D. The USDA announced a 20M purchase on 51-70 P&D which has resulted in some increase in dockside prices on these sizes.

Over half the headless boats remain at the dock because of high fuel prices. Expect prices to start moving up as production slows. Currently production remains good because packers are running shrimp from boats on the first trip of Texas season. I believe production will slow down in a couple of weeks.