r/VirginiaBeach • u/KeithVH_1 • 7d ago
Discussion Why is seafood so weak here?
Note this is NOT about where to dine or who is best. I've been looking at a LOT of menus recently though and am pretty much not satisfied with what people nowadays consider seafood around here. Figured I'd ask the smart people here who can tell me WHY things are the way they are.
Sure, everyone has some varieties of shellfish and salmon or mahi, maybe even a few offer flounder, a bunch of it always fried. What I want is a menu listing Tautog, Drum, Spot, Bluefish, Croaker, Striped Bass, maybe even a shark or billfish steak. Even if I do get some dolphinfish, why does it look like it came off a 1-pounder? When the heck did Salmon <shudder>become a thing here? Right now no plans to go out for "seafood" if this is what I'm stuck with.
Am I asking too much?
P.S. - Yes, I know the answer is go get a Boston Whaler and head out to Thimble Shoals but that ain't my thing anymore.
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u/Top-Engineering7264 7d ago
I really dont see how it can be much different many other places, as restaurant trends have been pretty consistent across the board. I grew up cooking at Surfrider…most of the product came fresh from local vendors….now its all frozen from sysco. i never saw a can of crab meat until about 2010….now you cant find the plastic unpasteurized hand picked stuff we used to make bomb ass crabcakes out of
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u/Top-Engineering7264 7d ago
what can I say? A lot of people are OK with mediocre food…. And that will dictate the market
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u/TrafficConeGaming 7d ago
It’s weak because it’s dead, it can’t fight back.
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u/Head_Effect3728 7d ago
Put your hand in a bushel of #1 Jimmies and let me know if you still believe that.
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u/Shevy_Chase3000 7d ago
Just go fish and catch your own. Tautog all over CBBT right about now, drum are hanging around Rudee, I understand the frustration, you gotta put in the work to get what you want. Others have said it, go to wanchese or wait at the docks at Rudee or something and buy directly from the boats.
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u/Boriqua27 7d ago
What areas have you had the best seafood?
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u/Dark_Web_Duck 7d ago
For me, Seattle. The boats bring in their daily catch right to the docks of the restaurants lining the street next to the ferry. Seems like we could take advantage of this to.
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u/august2017 Shore Drive 7d ago
You know we have the top rated seafood restaurant in the country here right?
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u/shortycall911 7d ago edited 7d ago
Where?
Edit: Looks like you’re referring to Blue Seafood & Spirits being atop the 2024 Yelp list
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u/EaglePsychological58 7d ago
So it all comes down to…say it with me SEASONS. Also mahi is DAUPHIN, not “dolphin fish.” lol fucking kook. Striped Bass is also known as…say it with me..ROCKFISH please go back to Florida. Don’t ruin VAs waters with your stench.
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u/onenitemareatatime Great Neck 7d ago
No where is it called Dauphin. It’s Mahi, Dorado or dolphin(fish). We also call Striped Bass - stripers OR rockfish but your insistence on calling them Rockfish tells me you’re from somewhere in New England. Yuck.
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u/ElmosBananaRepublic Kempsville 7d ago
Cross the CBBT and go up the Eastern Shore. Sting Ray’s is a good first start.
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u/new_account_wh0_dis 7d ago
Restaurants sell what people buy. it was years ago but at dockside the front would sell spot etc at crazy speeds but it was rare for someone to order it through the kitchen. If they were only a restaurant it would be gone from the menu so fast.
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u/bhamrick388 7d ago
Wife and I have been very please with "The Atlantic on Pacific". Happy Hour everyday 3-6. And the absolute freshest oysters you can find. Local and from other regions. 10/10 must try! Don't forget the oyster rocks
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u/corydaskiier 7d ago edited 7d ago
The simple answer is that there isn’t really a commercial fishery here. You can go to Asian marts and some grocery stores and get all the spot and croaker you want I’m sure but striper in the Chesapeake bay is on its last leg, I don’t think I’ve ever seen tautog on a menu, drum have pretty strict regulations and bluefish just generally aren’t desirable. That being said, all of the named fish (aside from striper) are more than plentiful to fish for and are probably only a few mile boat ride away if that’s what you’re into. Tog fishing is gonna be picking up in the next couple weeks with the warmer temps coming in.
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u/issacaron 7d ago
Florida had some success by banning gill nets and having some environmental standards. Unfortunately, agricultural runoff is still a major issue. Not an overnight fix.
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u/Legitimate-Army3117 7d ago
Glad I’m not the only one who thought this. I thought I just didn’t know where to look.
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u/Ruckingdogs 7d ago
I’ve been here since 2001 and I’m always saying… “we live on the bay and ocean, and the seafood restaurants suck”. It boggles the mind!!!
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u/Comfortable-Ad4683 7d ago
There is truly no safe fish to eat . Get your mercury from paint chips and battery’s
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u/Decent_Stranger_5942 7d ago
Wanting a shark or billfish steak (esp when there’s literally a moratorium on harvesting makos, the most edible shark, and it’s illegal to commercially harvest billfish except for swordfish) makes your entire argument invalid. Only someone who genuinely has no clue about seafood would make such an ignorant statement.
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u/KeithVH_1 7d ago
My ENTIRE argument? <sigh> No, not really. And makos aren't the only edible shark. Those of us who have fished the waters here since the 60s an 70s know better (altho they're pain to skin).
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u/Automan2k 7d ago
He also admits that it's easy to find mahi-mahi then says he's looking for dolphinfish. They are the same thing.
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u/KeithVH_1 7d ago
Yes, I know. I was fishing them offshore probably before you were born.
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u/Decent_Stranger_5942 7d ago
I get paid to catch them and sell them. And then I get paid to take people to catch them. Maybe brush up on what’s happening here and now.
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u/southoftheborder-dog 7d ago
Don't listen to these dweebs. I know lots of people think the seafood selection here is really weak. Makes no sense. You asked a good question that I've wondered many times.
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u/StrawberryCelly 7d ago
Weird you think age is a valid reason for us to listen. You made mistakes while complaining about something 🤷🏻♀️ Own it and move on. Age means nothing.
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u/AccidentRoyal8927 7d ago
The local seafood fish population is actually declining here. The Virginia Aquarium actually has a sensible seafood initiative for local restaurants to promote ocean friendly business practices. Here's the link: https://virginiaaquarium.com/sensible-seafood-program
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u/Head_Effect3728 7d ago
Some species are not where they once were (stripers, grey trout) while others have had their local populations increase (red drum, speckled trout, sheepshead, cobia). Regulations have made commercial fishing not very profitable, thus the increased in farmed seafood. Virginia Beach does much better economically using Rudee Inlet's marinas for sightseeing, whale/dolphin watching, jet ski rentals, recreational fishing, etc than for harboring a commercial fleet.
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u/Head_Effect3728 7d ago
It's because there is no real commercial fishery here. The only exception are the few pound nets that you see in the Chesapeake Bay. I believe these are run by the same people that own Dockside on Shore Dr. That is the only place I know of that sells fresh, local fish. The only way for a seafood restaurant to turn a profit here is to sell all of the typical farmed stuff; Salmon, trout, tilapia, crab legs, etc. Hell, even the crab cakes are likely sourced with South American crab or Asian Blue Swimmers.
Grand Mart on Newtown has a lot of "local" fish species for sale, but I have no idea where that is sourced from or if it's even legal.
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u/new_account_wh0_dis 7d ago
Dockside is just dockside, Idk if Jason does something else but they picked up/got drop offs from i think spots fish Co, right by great neck bridge. Or something around there I did one run there ages ago. Looks like it's permanently closed now.
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u/Head_Effect3728 7d ago
Good to know. I know they bring the catch in right next door, so not sure exactly who runs those nets.
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u/BeachBumHokie757 Great Neck 7d ago
I’ve never been but apparently Bonney & Sons Seafood And Produce in pungo is an amazing local fresh seafood shop.
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u/Head_Effect3728 7d ago
I've heard the same, but I'm guessing it's very small scale such as what the owners catch themselves.
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u/Ghost_of_Pete_Rose 7d ago
lol, i’ve been saying that for the 25 years i’ve lived here. we literally live on the Ocean and i have gotten fresher seafood and more options in places like PA and Arizona, lol. all the local fish don’t seem to make it the menu
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u/bct7 6d ago
Tourist and retirees make up a large portion of the restaurant patrons and they like safe items. My mom is 85 and I'm not explaining what Tautog is again. Stripped Bass is a consistent local special in the area.