Sexy Fish - Tripletail

Tripletail can reach a maximum size of 40 pounds although the average size is much smaller at around 15 pounds. Tripletail have a body that appears to have three tails - which are actually just the anal and dorsal fins.

Tripletail are quite the curious fish. The are like a mixture of other fish looks and habits. They have the general appearance of a large crappie in body shape, yet have the coloration of a rockbass. Their habits appear to be taken from other fish as well. They swim/float on their side just like a flounder. But they are truely a surface fish, lounging around like a gar. And thats exactly what they do, float around under some sort of floating structure just waiting for some small fish to come along. Not knowing that the tripletail is a fish and not floating debris, once the small fish, shrimp or crab come close enough the tripletail strikes quickly.

For years many people wouldn't eat a tripletail if they caught one because they thought that the fish was sick due to its habit of floating near the surface on its side. Tripletail however have some of the best meat of any fish that swims. If you happen to catch one you should take precautions when handling one. They have teeth and all of their fins are capable of inflicting serious stab wounds. Its not even safe to grab them by the gills due to the fact that their gill flap is sharp as a knife.

Citrus Seared Tripletail

Directions

4 Tripletail filets 4oz. ea
1 Lemon
1 Lime
2 lg. Oranges
Butter
Kosher or Sea salt
Black Pepper

Preheat the oven to 275ºF. Using a zester, shave off the rinds of the lemon, lime and oranges. Season both sides of the tripletail with salt and pepper only. Apply a generous amount of the citrus shavings to both sides of the fish and pat them down.

Saute the fish in butter on Medium-high heat, or on an electric griddle set to 350ºF. Once the fish is cooked halfway through, flip it over and cook the other side equally. If the citrus shavings start to burn, turn down your burner, they should be an appealing amber color when finished.