Why Some Fish Flesh Becomes Mushy When Caught (And Do They Eat Clams?)

Winter is coming, and fish dishes are making their way back to my menu. Recently, while scrolling through seafood videos, one question caught my attention: Why does some fish flesh become mushy when caught? It stopped me mid-scroll. I’ve always assumed that all fish are firm and edible if handled right. This prompted a deeper dive into fish textures and their quirks. What’s more, I stumbled upon another curiosity: Do these mushy-textured fish eat clams? Let’s unpack these questions together.

Which Fish Flesh Becomes Mushy?

Some fish are notorious for their mushy texture if not handled properly. Here’s what I found:

Arrowtooth Flounder

Arrowtooth flounder has high levels of protease – an enzyme that breaks down muscle tissue post-capture. If not frozen immediately, the flesh turns mushy, especially during cooking. Arrowtooth flounder primarily eat small fish like herring, pollock, and crustaceans. Clams? Not their usual fare.

Freezing immediately after capture preserves its texture. ¹

Pacific Hake

Proteolytic enzymes in Pacific hake quickly degrade muscle tissue, making the flesh soft and unappealing if not handled swiftly. Hake feed on krill, zooplankton, and small fish. Clams are rarely on their menu.

Pacific hake is often used for surimi (imitation crab meat) to avoid texture issues.

Cod

Improper handling or overcooking can cause cod to lose its flaky texture and turn mushy. Cod are versatile eaters and do consume clams. Their strong jaws make crushing mollusk shells easy.

Gentle methods like steaming preserve cod’s firm texture.

Pollock

Mishandling or inconsistent freezing leads to mushiness. Pollock naturally have a more delicate texture. Pollock prefer plankton, small fish, and crustaceans, with clams rarely making the list.

Tilapia

Poor transport or oxygen deprivation during farming causes their flesh to soften. Tilapia are omnivores, eating algae, plants, and small aquatic animals. While clams aren’t a staple, smaller mollusks might be eaten occasionally.

Do These Fish Eat Clams?

From my research, mushy fish like arrowtooth flounder and Pacific hake don’t generally eat clams. Cod, however, is an exception. They’re opportunistic feeders and love mollusks like clams when available. This leads us to a broader question: Which fish actually eat clams?

Which Fish Commonly Eat Clams?

Here are some species that happily include clams in their diet:

1. Cod regularly consume mollusks like clams, crushing them with strong jaws.
2. Black Drums are famous for feeding on clams, oysters, and other shellfish.
3. Rays (e.g., Cownose Rays) actively feed on clams, scallops, and other shellfish.
4. Harlequin Tuskfish, this clever fish uses rocks as tools to crack open clams before eating them. Watching a Harlequin Tuskfish in action is fascinating – it showcases the fish’s intelligence and problem-solving skills. YouTube ²

Why Does Fish Flesh Become Mushy?

The mushiness of certain fish is a result of biological and handling factors:

Proteolytic Enzymes are enzymes rapidly break down muscle proteins after capture, softening the flesh. ³

Tips to Avoid Mushiness

Freeze Immediately, Rapid freezing halts enzymatic activity. ⁴

A Personal Discovery

While researching mushy fish, one lingering question kept popping up: Do arrowtooth flounder eat clams? Despite digging through resources, I couldn’t find a clear answer. Arrowtooth flounder primarily eat small fish and crustaceans, so clams seem unlikely. But this quest taught me more about other clam-loving fish like cod and black drum. It’s a reminder of how intertwined marine ecosystems are, with each species playing its unique role.