Snappers are great for pan frying. These young bluefish have milder tasting and lighter colored fillets than their older and larger relatives. Cocktail Blues are the perfect combination of size and weight. Fillets are a good size for an adult meal and have a milder and sweeter taste than larger bluefish which have a darker color and stronger flavor. Larger bluefish from 6 to 10 pounds are a good size for baking whole with a pungent herb stuffing.
Larger fillets are also great for baking and broiling in spicy tomato and herb based sauces.
Anglers should be aware that large bluefish, have been shown to accumulate higher levels of chemical contaminants like PCBs. Studies have shown that contaminants are stored in the fatty portions of the fish and levels can be reduced by removing the skin and the darker fatty layer under the skin and the strip of darker meat that runs along the center of the fillet. Because of its higher fat content, bluefish should be handled with care to maintain quality. Bluefish should be thoroughly iced as soon as possible after they are caught and kept cold until they are eaten. Consumers who purchase bluefish during the warm summer months should avoid delays in getting their purchase home or ask their retailer to provide some extra ice.