Fish requires the keenest visual inspection, as freshness declines rapidly once caught.
The Eyes Have It: For whole fish, look for clear, bulging, shiny eyes. Clouded, sunken, or red-tinted eyes mean the fish is old.
Gill & Scale Quality: Lift the gill cover—gills must be bright ruby-red, not brown or gray. Scales should be tightly adhering and shiny, not dull or shedding.
Scent of the Ocean: Fresh fish smells like clean ocean water or sea salt. A sharp “fishy” or pungent odor indicates decomposition.
Checking Fillets: Fillets should look moist and tight with no gaps in the flesh. Avoid pieces sitting in still water or showing discoloration around the edges.