Llampuga Season in Mallorca

an annual festival to celebrate all things Llampuga

The fishing season for the Llampuga has just opened in Mallorca. Probably more well known by its American (Hawaiian) name of Mahi Mahi or Dolphin fish  in the Caribbean, Coryphaena hippurus is also found in Mediterranean waters at this time of year when they are at their warmest.

Cala Rajada is the main Llampuga fishing port with 10 boats authorised to make catches on a strict quota system though only three of them were in action this week as the season got off to a quiet start. Once the langostine season ends next week all the boats will be on duty until November when the fish migrate to warmer waters.

Our video illustrates how the fishermen in their traditional Llaut boats catch the fish, with each boat being able to catch no more than 32 boxes of Llampuga from Monday to Thursday and 20 on Friday. As well as preserving stocks of the fish, this quota also keeps the prices from dropping due to saturation of the market!

So important is this trade to Cala Rajada that an annual festival is held in the port every October to celebrate all things Llampuga – including lots of samples of the most typical way to serve it, with red peppers. If you'd like to sample some for yourself, Marc Fosh's Tasca Blanquerna has a superb dish of Llampuga with escalivada on the menu which makes a perfect cold starter.

Published 26 August 2011 Stephen White.