The inquiries started as early as January; the opening date for the annual Halibut season off the Pacific coast hadn’t even been set yet. That’s what happens after 13 years of getting people hooked on fresh, sustainable Pacific Halibut through an annual Halibut Whole Fish event, a 14 year tradition each May. Customers cue up for their cut of the whole Halibut action at 1 Fish 2 Fish Fresh Seafood Market.

With only a few orders on the books in the early years, the annual Whole Fish event starts with Halibut in May, wild Sockeye Salmon in July and wrap up with wild Coho Salmon in August. Each customer places their order complete with custom cutting and packaging instructions. The staff at 1 Fish 2 Fish then custom cut, package, vacuum seal and freeze each order for the customer.

The Halibut event is by far the largest for the Langley-based fish market, cutting over 2-tonnes of Halibut for the event in 2011. “We started out by offering our customers an opportunity to buy a great quality product at a wholesale price to stock their freezer,” says Heather Jenkins, owner of 1 Fish 2 Fish Fresh Seafood Market. “I wanted to provide customers a product and service – something they couldn’t get anywhere else.” Jenkins has done just that, growing her annual Whole Fish event with less than 40 orders in the early years to over 400 orders – just for Halibut in 2011.

The word continues to spread with customers from across the lower mainland calling, emailing, even tweeting their Whole Fish orders so they can get their piece of the Halibut Whole Fish action. “We have customers that come from as far away as Vernon and Kamloops for the event,” notes Jenkins. “The folks from Kamloops collect a group order, drive down to pick up from us and take home their fish to share with friends and family.”

Good news for all of us, the pre-orders for the annual event are now being taken, with order filling starting May 1st. If you are interested, 1 Fish 2 Fish staff will take your orders until the end of May, but be warned; with over 400 orders to custom prepare, you might be waiting a few weeks to receive word that your Whole Fish is ready to enjoy!

1 Fish 2 Fish Fresh Seafood Market has been serving the local community for over 14 years, providing chemical free, wild and sustainable seafood choices for their customers. A proud supporter of the Nickomekl Enhancement Society, an organization dedicated to protecting and restoring wild Salmon stocks in the Fraser Valley, and the lower mainland’s first Ocean Wise™ fish market partner,  

1 Fish 2 Fish Fresh Seafood Market is open 7 days a week with a seafood selection that is among the best in the lower mainland.

 http://www.1fish2fish.ca/