Why is knife fish so expensive? Is knife fish the same as hairtail fish?

As we all know, there are many kinds of fish. Different fish have different tastes and textures, and different ways of eating and cooking. Hairtail and knife fish are two of the more common fish. They are very similar in appearance, and many people confuse them. In fact, the two are different. So what is the difference between hairtail and knife fish? Let's take a closer look!

Why is knife fish so expensive?

1. Scarcity makes things valuable: With the extension of the fishing ban, the Bohai Bay knife fish, which had not been seen for many years, has begun to appear again! However, the production is not enough to form a fishing season, and generally only a small amount of fishing is carried out. If a fishing boat catches a few Bohai knives, it is more exciting than winning the lottery. Because the Bohai knives are rare, the market price is basically more than 100 yuan, and most of them are snapped up and hoarded by restaurants! Ordinary people rarely see them, and they may not be willing to buy them.

2. The meat is delicate and plump, and the taste is extremely delicious: Bohai knife is a memory on the tongue of the older generation of Dalian silverfish, because this kind of fish was particularly abundant in the past, and it was almost a must-have during the Chinese New Year at home. It can be said that it is a fish that has grown up with a generation of Dalian silverfish.

3. Merchants hype: Many restaurants, especially seafood restaurants, are proud to have the dish [Fried Bohai Knife]. Because it is a symbol that the restaurant can get fresh and rare goods, the Bohai Knife, which is already rare, is naturally expensive!

Are knife fish and hairtail the same fish?

Knife fish and hairtail are not the same fish, but hairtail is called "knife fish" in Shandong and some areas of Northeast China.

The name "Knife fish" is very common in the coastal areas of Shandong and Dalian, where hairtail is basically called "Knife fish". This is because both the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea produce hairtail, and the production of knife fish in the Bohai Bay was particularly high in the past.

The knife fish in Bohai Bay is not like the hairtail fish in the south, which can only be fried. The knife fish in Bohai Bay is most delicious when stewed, especially the meat in the belly is particularly plump and fragrant. Later, the knife fish in Bohai Bay was basically extinct! Although it has occasionally appeared in recent years, the price is no longer affordable for ordinary people!

What is the difference between knife fish and hairtail fish?

Different appearance

First of all, we need to distinguish them based on their appearance. The size of the knife fish is slightly smaller. The length of an adult knife fish is about 18 cm and 25 cm. Moreover, the body of the knife fish is particularly long and slightly flat. Its head and back are blue, the body is slightly yellowish, and the abdomen is a little grayish white. It turns beige at the tail. Anyway, this is probably the signature of the knife fish!

Different growing environment

Then there is the huge difference in their living environment. The knife fish lives near the coast, but the hairtail fish is different. It lives in the deep sea. The two live very far away from each other, so it is easy to identify them from the fishy smell coming from their bodies!

Eat different things

The last one is the food they eat. The knife fish mainly eats some so-called small fish and shrimps, and occasionally eats some small insects, but the hairtail fish is not so gentle. The hairtail fish is a particularly ferocious carnivorous fish, which mainly feeds on hair shrimps and squids. There is a big difference between the two. If the hairtail fish encounters the knife fish, it may kill the knife fish with a wrong look.