Lepidocybium flavobrunneum of the snake-mackerel family, Gempylidae, goes by many names, including escolar, walu, waloo, butterfish, oilfish, white tuna, and even cod.
Its most interesting name, however, is undoubtedly ‘the laxative fish’. Its flesh is extremely rich and tasty because it is packed with a waxy oil that humans don’t readily digest. Therefore, unfortunate bouts of keriorrhea ensue after ingesting it — explosive and uncontrollable orange-coloured, oily diarrhoea.
Most people can tolerate up to three ounces, however, some restaurants have offered this as a main dish. Australia, Japan, and Italy have banned the sale of the species.
A magnificent and powerful fish found all around the world in 1,000 feet or deeper, escolar is usually caught as a by-catch by fishermen targeting swordfish. Cayman owns two world records for this species with catches of 150 and 174 pounds.
Tom Byrnes is the owner/operator of Cayman Marine Lab. He acquired his Coast Guard Captain’s Licence when he was a teenager and worked as a commercial fisherman in his youth. He got his first diving certificate in 1974 with the YMCA. He has worked in the local dive industry for more than 35 years and has a PhD in marine biology.
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