Top 6 Most Expensive Fish That Are Shockingly Tasty!

Fish lovers know that there’s nothing quite like the taste of a fresh catch cooked to perfection. But what if you could take that experience to the next level and indulge in some of the most expensive fish in the world? 

From the buttery texture of Chinook Salmon to the delicate flavor of Bluefin Tuna, these ten mouth-watering fish are worth every penny.

So, let’s dive in and explore the top 6 most expensive fish that are not only a feast for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes.

Hold on to your hats, folks – this is going to be a wild ride! 

6. Chinook Salmon – $30 Per Pound

Chinook salmon, which comes from the Pacific Ocean, is one of the most prized fish species in the world. It is often considered one of the most expensive fish on the market, with a price tag of around $30 per pound.  

Its flavor is rich and buttery, with a firm and soft texture that melts in your mouth. As they are considered to be one of the most flavourful salmon, the taste of this fish is one of the reasons for its significantly higher price. 

The Chinook Salmon comes as a fish with a limited supply as well. Because of its rich taste, the Chinook salmon population has been in decline in recent years. Therefore, tasty fish is in danger because of overfishing. 

Fact: In their young or juvenile state, the Chinook Salmon live in freshwater and as it grows it swims toward the ocean or saltwater.

5. Pufferfish – $200

Pufferfish, also known as fugu in Japan, is a type of seafood that is often considered an expensive and rare delicacy. With an average cost of $200 per pound, this fish is one of the most expensive seafood items in the world. 

This is a poisonous fish and its poison tetrodotoxin can easily kill a human when consumed. Therefore, only specially trained and licensed chefs are permitted to prepare Pufferfish dishes.

The rigorous training and certification required to become a fugu chef increase the cost of the dish, contributing to its high price. A single fish of this fish can have a price of $60. 

The taste of this fish is described as mild and has a unique taste to it. This fish has gained itself a luxury status and the difficulty that comes with preparing it is why it is expensive. 

Fact: Everyone knows the pufferfish inflate themselves when they sense danger. But do you know how they do this? 

They inflate themselves by taking in a lot of water in their stomach and therefore increase in size. Although doing this is considered harmful for pufferfish.

4. Swordfish – $60 Per Pound

Swordfish is one of the most peculiar looking fish species in the world, it literally has a protruding blade like structure on its face. This fish is considered an expensive delicacy as well, with a price tag of around $60 per pound. 

Swordfish can grow to a massive size with the average weight of 200lbs. It has white flesh and comes with a mild taste. Therefore, the taste of swordfish is what people is after more than its size. 

Swordfish requires a lot of space to thrive in, as it a saltwater fish that just darts around in the ocean. Therefore, one needs to mimic that to farm swordfish. Although, farming swordfish is a hard task but it is easier than going to the ocean to catch it. So, wild caught swordfish are becoming rarer and rarer. 

Therefore the high demand for its exquisite mild flavour and the difficulty of farming it is what drives up the cost of swordfish. 

Fact: Swordfish can swim up to the speed of 60 mph. 

As they are apex predators, they have an organ near their eyes that raises the temperature of their eyes and brain, helping them to hunt in cold areas. 

3. Alaskan Wild King Salmon – $70 Per Pound

The Alaskan Wild King Salmon is simply a wild caught Chinook Salmon from the Alaska. Chinook Salmon and Alaskan Wild King Salmon are the same species of fish. Alaskan Wild King Salmon has an average cost of $70 per pound and it can become even higher. 

It might be confusing you that despite being the same species why is there a significant price difference.

This is because Alaskan Wild King Salmon grows in the clean waters of Alaska and these fishes have a lot of space to swim around. These factors can bring difference in taste and result in better tasting fish.

Therefore, the Alaskan Wild King Salmon tastes a lot better than Chinook Salmon because Chinook Salmon is farm bred. One more reason is the transportation cost which raises the price. The fish has to be transported from Alaska which is about 3000 miles away from United States. 

Therefore, the rich, fresh and sweet flavour of Alaskan Wild King Salmon is worth every penny. 

Fact: The Alaskan Wild King Salmon is the largest salmon species on the Pacific Ocean. So, you can enjoy a lot of this spectacular tasting fish. 

Also, the juvenile stage right after they hatch, they are called Alevin. 

2. American Glass Eel – $100 – $3000 Per Pound

The American Glass Eel is on this list as it can cost about $3000 per pound.

This eel comes from northeast coastlines in North America and can grow up to 6 feet. The taste of American Glass Eel is not that exquisite and has been compared to a catfish. 

But these Eel have become very scarce as a result of illegal catching, therefore, there are a lot of restriction that surround the catching of American Glass Eel. Therefore, the rarity is the reason why this eel has a high price tag. 

Fact: This eel is mostly served as sushi mostly and is a prized cuisine all over the world. 

1. Bluefin Tuna – $400 Per Pound

The Bluefin Tuna is the tastiest fish in existence and once a 600-pound Bluefin Tuna was sold for $3 million in Japan. The price of this fish can range from $40 per pound to about $400 per pound.

The price depends on where you buy it from and the costliest Tuna found in Japan. Bluefin Tuna is also found in North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. 

Bluefin Tuna is increasing in rarity as well. The best tuna is found on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Japan and therefore the most expensive. Also, its population has come to a minimum because of overfishing. The taste of Bluefin Tuna is unique and firm and comes with a meaty texture. Therefore, it is great served as sushi. 

Fact: Bluefin Tunas can dive deeper than 3000 feet and can swim at the speed of 43 miles per hour.