Let's become tuna fishermen!

[riverdog]

Bluefin Tuna is an excellent fish. What you are missing is that you don't understand the part of Japanese culture that developed under the pressure of being a heavy populated island with limited resources. Melons are special. If they are specific Japanese melon or made square by placing developing fruit into a box then they are even more special. Now if you've ever had a fresh picked ripe watermelon from Green River or a fresh picked ripe cantaloupe from Arkansas let me assure you that you aren't going to find a better melon in Japan. Their growing conditions just can't match up even if they get people paying $40- $400 a melon there. Kobe beef is very good but no Japanese raised and prepared beef begins to match up with say a good BBQ brisket from Kansas City, Dallas or Austin. Bluefin Tuna is were this culture goes to extremes. Unfortunately Japanese demands have seriously strained the worldwide Bluefin tuna stock. I just moved to NM after a few years in the Boston area. In Boston the next-door neighbors brother would take them out and fish for Bluefin Tuna. I'd put fresh Bluefin Tuna up just above fresh Halibut but below Alaskan Spot Prawns as my favorite seafood.
Yes premium Kobe and Bluefin are going to be heavily marbled and certainly add to the texture and flavor profile but they still aren't going to be special foods to most of us not raised in that culture. When some restaurant or business person in Japan pays a couple million for a Bluefin Tuna it is seen in the context of being a "special" event.
Now you got me hungry. If only there was someway for me to get a few pounds of fresh Alaskan Spot prawns now.
[signature]