The Best Fish You’re Missing. Five Local Species to Try Now! 

Posted on August 25, 2026 by Local Fish

At Local Fish we spend A LOT of time thinking and talking about seafood and one thing we’ve observed over the years is that consumers are creatures of habit when it comes to making choices. Most people go with what they know because let’s be honest, picking a piece of fish out of a case (or off a restaurant menu) can be daunting. 

The vast majority of people will go with what they know at the fishmonger or when dining out. Oftentimes that looks like Salmon. Alaskan Halibut. Maybe Tuna. These options are familiar and safe. 

If you’re a San Diego local you might venture a bit closer to home and opt for the local Bluefin, Yellowtail or the local Swordfish, which are all great options by the way :). 

But these wider-known species are only a small sliver of the vast array of delicious options of what we have locally on any given day. We have so many local species that might not be on your radar yet that we wanted to round up a few that you might like to keep an eye out for next time you’re at the fishermen’s market, fish market or out to dinner. We promise not to steer you wrong! 

1. Sheephead

This is definitely one of our favorite local options and here’s why. They are abundant. They are affordable. And they are absolutely delicious. You can spot local Sheephead by their black and red appearance and most notably their very large teeth. Sheephead have strong teeth to eat bottom dwelling sea creatures like Spiny Lobster and Crab and thus take on a lot of that sweet, mild flavor profile and mouthfeel one finds in the more premium options. 

Sheephead can be slippery with a thick skin, so we do recommend having them fileted in the filet booth or by your fish monger. If you’re getting it super fresh it’s also one of our favorite options for turning into a fresh ceviche or aguachile. 

2. Sanddabs

Sanddabs are an absolute treat. While we don’t often see them at local fish markets, you can almost always find them at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market or The Fishermen’s Market in Oceanside. And they are well worth waking up early for. These small bottom-dwelling fish have a very mild and delicate flavor. They are easy to prepare with a bit of butter and lemon, and they are guaranteed to impress.  

3. Sea Urchin

Harvested one at a time by divers in scuba gear, local Sea Urchin or Uni has to be one of the greatest delicacies San Diego has to offer. Once you figure out how to crack open the inky purple shell, you will find a rich and velvety orange roe inside that is creamy, briny and sweet.  We love to eat it on toast, draped over pasta or with a bit of sushi rice and soy sauce.

4. Rockfish

There’s close to 40 different species of Rockfish in San Diego waters alone and you really can’t go wrong with a single one. Sometimes called “Rock Cod’ or mislabeled as “Snapper” our local Rockfish is one of the most abundant and delicious options available. It is also a very direct way to support local fishermen as many of the young next-generation fishermen target this species. 

It can be fileted and cooked in a pan, roasted or fried whole and definitely turned into a delicious ceviche if fresh. It is sweet, mild and very easy to cook. Please, please go eat some local Rockfish this week! 

5. Mackerel

Previously overlooked as a “bait fish” or “trash fish” many next-generation fishermen are now giving our local mackerel the white glove treatment. They’re experimenting with keeping them fresh and alive up until the moment they are sold, running them through an ikejime process, and handling them very gently from the time they are harvested to the time they are sold. This creates a premium product that is delicious and good for you. 

In San Diego waters we have the Pacific and Spanish varieties. Both are small, oily and full-bodied enough to be marinated, roasted, grilled or smoked. We love to clean them and brine them for a day or two (think, salt, pepper, sugar, and a splash of vinegar) before roasting or smoking them. 

TRY NEW! TRY LOCAL!

Between our local Fishermen’s markets and amazing seafood shops there is no excuse to not try something new this week. Follow along here to get the latest on what’s coming in and never hesitate to reach out. We are here for you! Please tag us in all of your local seafood creations. We can’t wait to see what you will cook up next!