Megrim sole, the species of fish that for many years topped the leader board for the highest value of landings in Newlyn...
back in the day when the port supported a fleet of over 30 beam trawlers that over the years found more and more grounds off to the south west of Newlyn in the deeper waters...
while the top side, with eyes very close together has that characteristic pale brown colouring which distinguishes the fish from its more colourful relatives like lemons, Dovers, dabs and plaice...
both sides can be seen here.
According to the Cornwall Good Seafood Guide, the fish make good eating, tough even now the majority of them auctioned on the market in Newlyn for for export mainly to Spain. Also known as Cornish Sole, Megrim is a deep water, flatfish which tastes incredible. Like a flat version of a bass a megrim has a huge mouth used to suck up its prey, which mainly consists of smaller fish.
Megrims are caught by Cornish trawlers who use more selective fishing gear. They have delicious tender meat and are easily filleted. Traditionally this fish has not been eaten in the UK with the majority of landings being exported to France and Spain where they are far better appreciated but Brexit has made this more difficult and local UK markets are now being sought urgently. Local restaurants like Argoe based in the harbour and The Shore in Penzance both feature megrims regularly on their menus.
