Fresh Flounder        
The raw material market has backed off significantly as production is high, and demand is low. Availability will be strong for weekend sales. Current inventory consists of trawl caught product harvested in Atlantic Beach, NC.
      
Porgies           
Fishing continues to be strong along the East Coast. Current inventory consists of trawl caught product harvested in Point Judith, RI.
          
Black Bass        
Trawl season is in full swing which has backed off the market on Larges and Jumbos. If strong fishing continues, the market will stay affordable on fillets.
       
Monkfish         
Demand has decreased since the holiday boom. Soft market as production is outweighing the demand. Weekend availability will be strong. Current inventory consists of trawl caught product harvested in Boston, MA.
 
Hake         
Consistent landings in the north have brought the market back down to an affordable fillet. No issue with weekend availability. Current inventory consists of trawl caught product harvested in Boston, MA.
           
Blue Catfish    
Limited volume landings in The Chesapeake Bay. Fishing will continue to diminish as the cold weather is here for the next few months.  
 
Wild Striped Bass 
Local 5/8’s continue to be the main size harvested; 2/4’s and 8+’s continue to be second and third, respectively. Local Maryland fishers have started to produce at a high volume. Buyer’s market currently.
 
Mahi:       
Steady market to begin the week. Steady flow of incoming product as fishing continues to be strong in Central and South American.
 
Tuna
Some Beautiful tuna arriving from Costa Rico, Panama & the gulf of America this week. Expect fish to be more limited this month. Prices are elevated, which could last into February. Tariffs, Chinese New Year, Caribbean geopolitics, & NOAA embargos are all impacting the market.
 
Swordfish
Beautiful double marker swords are landing from Ecuador, Costa Rica, Brazil & the gulf. Prices remain elevated & overall limited supply from New Year’s well into the new year.
 
Iceland
Boats getting back to work post holiday. We hope/expect to see some improvement in prices next week. Poor winter weather may impact supply these next 2 months.
 
Tariffs – President Trump has announced a 10% increase to all European nations to start February 1st. This will push up all salmon prices coming from Europe, and it is suspected Canadian prices to follow. Chile fillets increases have not yet been determined for the period after Feb. 1st.
‍
Farmed Salmon         
Canada pricing will increase in response to the tariff increase for Europe. Availability is changing as there will be fewer small salmon (6/8, 8/10) larger sizes are available.
Europe- Norway, Iceland, and Faro – because of pre-booking prices next week will be down slightly and but expect to see a sizable increase the following week.
Ora king- Fish are available, flights have improved.
Chile – Pricing and availability have improved following the holiday.
 
Atlantic Halibut
Weather causing a bit of a gap in landings. As a result, pricing will tick up mid week.
 
Rainbow Trout
Farms in the US are seeing limited availability now due to strong sales and slower than anticipated growth during the last two quarters of 2025. Colombian trout is an excellent option.
 
Caviar
It’s a great time to start thinking about featured options for Valentines Day. We have some great recommendations below,
Featured this week:
Classic Siberian Caviar, 28g
Italy sustainably raised.
CAVSC1
 
Hackleback Caviar, 1 oz
Wild, USA
CAVH01
 
Smoked Salmon Roe, 2oz
Smoked in North Carolina
CAVRT7

Tariffs – Canada and China came to a deal essentially eliminating certain tariffs, one being tariffs on lobsters going to China. This will increase sale of Canadian lobsters to China pushing up the price coming to the US over the coming weeks.
 
Live Lobster
Severe winter weather and a hard sustained freeze have boats remaining docked. We have seen Canadian vendors starting to offer tubed product, as price structures continue to climb. With little to no landings and diminished catch volumes brought on by colder water temperatures this scenario will continue as the Chinese New Year approaches. Domestic wholesalers continue to struggle to maintain viable inventories. Anticipation of significant price increases loom.

Crabmeat- updates you need to know.
Fresh Crabmeat
Maryland

Fresh picking has concluded as the Maryland season is closed for 2025 & winter ‘26. We do have limited availability of thawed nitro-frozen and pasteurized lump to support off-season needs.
North Caroli
resh picking is now wrapped up for the winter as low temperatures have taken hold. We have transitioned to thawed inventory to provide a winter option, yet it’s extremely limited this year & pricy.
Columbian & Mexican
limited small shipments arriving a few times a week. Prices are strong & rising. small quantities
Venezuela

We have now moved to R/F Ven crabmeat. NOAA’s importing embargo has now begun, 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 just now putting together their application to get approval. We currently have no indication on how long this will take or how long it will take NOAA to review & approve it, so we wait. 
There are also plenty of alternative options available in the cooler as well.
Pasteurized Crabmeat
Blue Swimming Crab

This category continues to experience rapid price increases due to several factors: tariff impacts, poor landings in Indonesia, the Philippines, and India, all during strong demand. As higher-priced containers arrive and inventories cost-averages upward, pricing pressure is expected to continue.
Most importers are facing limited availability, and the combination of weak landings and high demand is driving an extremely strong market. Expect ongoing supply constraints and rising prices throughout fall and winter.
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. Mexican Super Lump and Mexican Jumbo remain strong alternative options currently.
Colombia
upply remains very limited. Landings have been extremely small. Prices are very high. Waiting on our next shipment to arrive
 
Molluscs
Squid
Tariffs are playing a role in the restocking of imported products. USA remains available, but after a slow season this past winter, the price of domestic loligo will take a substantial increase next week.
Spanish loligo is a great option to subvert this increase, along with the very popular Indian origin options we carry.
 
Scallops
After another round of increases, the only thing certain for this year is more increases. Little Japanese product is entering the country and that will remain the case for the remainder of 2026. Hokkaido pricing increased this week on all sizes.
Domestic pricing continues to climb as no larger product is landing, applying increased pressure to smaller sizes as well.
 
Clams
Locally and in New England, extreme temperatures have subsided and harvesting wild tops is available again. The nicest size is usually coming out of these northern areas.
 
Mussels
Wild, domestic mussel boats are still only getting out sparingly, although recovery could come as soon as the end of the week.
 
Oysters
MSX is sparing a few farms throughout PEI, and New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland entirely. We are still seeing some great options coming out of Canada.
Featured this week:
Merasheen Bay Oysters
Newfoundland, Canada
OYS240
 
Dixon Point Oysters
New Brunswick, Canada
OYS044

‍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 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
Pink shrimp season is getting off to a slow start. Shrimp have been small, and boats have been leaving shrimp head on. Many boats in Texas are waiting for the gulf to settle down before making the cross. Eventually production should be good. I think about 4 weeks.