Fresh Flounder      
Heavy landings in NJ and RI have caused the market to drop early week. Bad weather offshore later in the week could cause disruption in the supply chain for the offshore trawl boats. Current inventory consists of pound net product harvested in Hatteras, NC.
      
Porgies           
The markets begin to soften as hook and line season is over and trawl boats are harvesting.
          
Black Bass        
Limited availability and increased markets. Ocean City, MD boats were able to fish before the heavy winds kicked in. Expect availability so significantly tighten by the weekend. Current inventory consists of pot/trap caught product harvested in Ocean City, MD (F/V Skilligalee)
 
Monkfish         
After last week’s extreme spike, raw material costs are slowly starting to work back down to a more affordable product. Current inventory consists of trawl caught product harvested in Boston, MA.
  
Blue Catfish    
No issues with availability.
       
Spanish Mackerel:     
Limited availability as fishing on the East Coast has stopped. Main production is happening in the gulf and Southern Atlantic.
 
Mahi:    
The market continues to become more affordable as fish in multiple countries are finally starting to show up. Strong availability for weekend sales.
 
Grouper:   
• Imports: Brazil market softened this week as fishing was strong late last week. No issues with availability currently.
• Domestics: Fishing season is rolling in the Gulf. Plenty of red groupers for weekend sales from Cortez, FL (F/V Liberty Belle)    

Snappers:   
• No changes from last week. Domestic boats continue to produce as fishing has been strong in the south.
 
Wild Striped Bass:    
Fishing season is in full swing in both NY and MD. The market has significantly softened the past few weeks, making wild striped bass much more affordable. Anticipate a continuous falling market until the bottom is found.
 
Farmed Salmon
• Canada pricing has seen an increase across the board; we have seen a shortage in larger salmon 14/16 up.
• Europe- Iceland – Held steady but look for slight increase in coming weeks.
• Ora king- Fish remain on allocation, rumor is more fish should be available by mid to late October.
• Chile – Look for an increase in pricing over the coming weeks in Pre-cut fillet prices.
• Verlasso- ASC- Sustainably raised- These whole fish prices continue to remain low, but a small increase is on the horizon.
 
Atlantic Halibut
Pricing is stable for the moment, higher than in weeks past but that is typical of this time of year. Expect elevated pricing through the end of the year as we will lose the Pacific fishery to end of season shortly, the Norwegian fishery has placed lower limits on catch this year, and many Canadians will switch gear in favor of lobsters for the holidays. There is a record low amount of product in the freezer this year, so it is likely there will be few cheap alternatives to fresh Atlantic halibut this year, versus years past with the prevalence of refreshed fillets in the market.
 
Pacific Halibut
Severe weather throughout PNW and AK will limit harvesting for the remainder of the week. We should see this option again by mid-next week.
 
Sablefish, aka Black Cod
Severe weather throughout PNW and AK will limit harvesting for the remainder of the week. We should see this option again by mid-next week.
 
Wild Salmon
Wild Pacific Kings and Coho have completed their runs for the year. We do have a fee Columbia River net kings available, but they will go fast. Availability on wild kings is sparse this time of year, but we could see a few more by end of week.
 
Lakefish – Walleye, White Perch, & White Bass
White perch and White Bass are arriving in sufficient quantities from Ontario, Canada. Walleye is arriving multiple times per week right now, get them while they are ice cold! There is low quota left in the 2025 season compared with years past, so pricing is expected to remain stable through the fall season.
 
Hawaiian Kanpachi
Availability is low for the remainder of the year due to a decrease in biomass growth this past season.
 
Rainbow Trout
A variety of great specs available on this affordable protein rich in O-3’s. Perfect bone-out plate sized fish, butterflied, and single-side fillets are available from multiple origins. The Idaho product is expected to remain limited through the end of the year so check out the variety of specs offered from North Carolina and Colombia.
 
Tuna
Good domestic & imported supply this week as boats continue to land. Beautiful fish arriving from the Gulf & the Caribbean. Great option this week
 
Swordfish
Beautiful Double Markers+ hitting our docks! Swords landing mostly from the US, Costa Rica, Brazil & a few from Canada. Prices have tickled up some off last week’s lows.
 
Caviar 
We are stocking a wide variety of options for any application, from the most premium Osetra and beluga hybrid to affordable garnishes, in any size tin or jar. Check out all the on-hand and special-order options available to you by consulting with your account manager.
Featured this week:
Beluga Hybrid Cuvee, 28g tin
Farm-raised in Italy
CAVBC1
 
Classic Italian Osetra, 28g tin
Farm-raised in Italy
CAVO01
 
Smoked Trout Roe, 2oz jar.
Smoked with wood from Pappy Vanwinkle oak barrels in North Carolina.
CAVRT7

Live Lobster
We have seen an increase in catch volumes as the fall fishing season is in full swing. The pending weather heading into the weekend will cause an interruption in landings. Wholesalers try to maintain viable inventories this time of year in preparation for this reason. Prices at the shore remain stable for the time being. There are talks of an adjustment down however met with resistance before in climate weather. Shell quality continues to improve as we move forward into November.
 
Crabmeat
Fresh:

Maryland – Fresh picked MD meat arriving daily but now has become limited as the crab catch quickly falls off. Prices are up because of these limited catches.
North Carolina- fresh meat arriving daily at a good savings vs MD. Very nice quality. Unfortunately, the poor weather poor weather early week has tightened up supply.
Venezuela – Conservation period has ended; fresh & refreshed product has arrived. Both the fresh & the refreshed Ven HPP crabmeat is a great savings vs all other options & is looking good. take advantage now.
Pasteurized:
Blue Swimming – Tariff impacts & poor landings in Indonesia, Philippians & India has affected the blue swimming crabmeat category. Prices have continued to rise VERY quickly this past month+ & are expected to continue once higher priced containers hit our shores & cost average up inventories. Most importers are limiting availability as well as many future deliveries that have been cancelled because of the tariffs. These weak crab landings during a high demand period have really added to this rising market. Expect supply limitations & prices to continue to quickly rise all fall into winter.
Red Swimming – very high tariffs plus poor landings have pushed prices up especially on jumbo lump & jumbo. Lump is now following up as well. Relief is not expected soon as many have switched over to these cheaper options.
Mexico- Prices rose quickly following the Indo prices up as the demand spilled over. Look to Mexican super lump & Mexican Jumbo as good alternatives to Indo currently.
Columbia – Very poor supply in Columbian & unfortunately prices are up now as new tariffed meat arrives this week. There is very limited supply currently, but what is available looks nice.

Molluscs
Scallops
Stable and available this week.
 
Squid
The new season of Indian Needle squid has begun to hit the US, and we are making that switch as it arrives. Pricing remains stable at the moment but will increase in the coming weeks as tariff regulations affect the new landings.
 
Oysters
We are well into oyster season in MD; however, watermen are still hand tonging and diving as of right now. They are producing some nice product now and it will only get nicer as the season progresses. In November, Maryland watermen can dredge, and prices will start to set for the upcoming holiday season.
In VA, some areas opened as early as October 1, like MD, and the volumes are low, keeping pricing from dipping early this season. With recent openings in VA, we have yet to see a big increase in the availability of large shucking oysters.
Featured this week:
Pink Ladies Oysters
Barnstable, MA
OYS108
Sweet and creamy with pillowy meats. Finishes with clean notes of seaweed. A portion of the proceeds from each bag sold is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (!) during the month of October.
 
Pink Moon Oysters
New London Harbor, PEI, Canada
OYS109
A perfect balance of salt, creaminess, and a pleasant mineral finish.
 
Church Creek Corks Oysters
Church Creek, VA
OYS020
Deep cups, hints of seagrass, mild salt, velvety texture.

‍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 the salt 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
Prices remain consistent. Production continues to be ok as competitors fight for shrimp. Expect prices to remain consistent until production stops or slows down. The market will firm as shrimp get short.
 
Squid – Loligo and Arrow
• LOLIGO: Chinensis (China Origin): Catches well below prior year. Less relevant for US market due to high tariffs. Duvaucelii (India Origin): fishing season is underway but buying interest is minimal due to 50% tariffs. Duvaucelii (Pakistan Origin) - Majority of purchases switched to Pakistan for the time being amid high tariffs from India.
• US Squid Imports through July went down 3% and are expected to remain unchanged. Prices are stable for now due to slow demand but expected to continue to increase due to tariffs.
• USA Loligo: - 2025 landings are well ahead of prior year (more than double the landings for the same time last year). Duty-free USA Loligo are more attractive than imported squid given 50% tariff from India.
• ARROW: 2025 season finished with catches below 2024. 2025 season prices are about 5% higher.
 
Market Trend
Loligo prices are stable for now but expected to increase due to tariffs.
Arrow squid pricing remains firm but above prior year.