What fresh fish really means in Portugal

Everything I didn’t know about fishing (until I fell in love with a fisherman)

I was lucky. I grew up already knowing what a real fish looks like. No cubes in plastic in my parents’ house: when we ate fish, it was fish. The eyes, the scales, …it was all there, and we ate it as pure as possible.

So when I went on my first holidays to Mediterranean countries, I instantly fell in love with all these fish places. It was everywhere: fresh, grilled, affordable, and so full of flavor. Back in Belgium, fresh fish was a rare treat: hard to find and too expensive.

And then… I came to Portugal. Polvo! Squid! Dorada! Love at first sight. Every market visit was a discovery. And then came the plot twist: my boyfriend turned out to be a fisherman. Suddenly, fresh fish became part of my everyday life. A little bit of ocean magic, daily.

What I didn’t know: the rock ’n roll of fishing life

It’s not at all romantic in the way you think: it’s rough and wild, it’s real. The ocean decides everything: when you wake up, when you eat, when you sleep.

The dedication of a fisherman is something else. Waking up before dawn, climbing steep, loose rocks with nothing but a thin rope. With the Atlantic wind practically sweeping you off your feet… Some of them aren’t so young anymore but still rocking it, even on a little Medronho high 🙂

The first time my boyfriend asked me to join him, I had to climb down these cliffs with nothing but that massive ocean beneath me. My brain screamed “Uh… maybe a more romantic date?” But my heart? It loved it. There’s something breathtaking about this raw way of life: the silence and the stubbornness of the fishermen, the waves smashing against the cliffs, the endless horizon…. it makes you feel small. Small and humble.

How real fish tastes

Knowing all that, no fish ever tastes the same anymore. What I once thought was “fresh fish” suddenly feels… well, not fresh at all. In all my life, I had never seen a fish that had been caught just a few hours earlier.

Sometimes I wish I could just grab a fast packaged fish from a supermarket, quick and easy, but I can’t anymore. And somebody would not be very happy if I brought that home. 😉 Eating fish this way, changes everything. It connects you to the place, the person, to the sea.

And the smell… oh, the smell. Pure, soft, salty, ocean-clean. Every bite feels like a gift from nature, fresh and honest.

When, where, and what to buy

So now: if you want to taste truly fresh fish, here’s what you need to know. In Portugal, the sea has seasons too:

Sardines: peaking in summer (and never out of season)
Robalo & Dourada: fall/winter favorites
Octopus: available all year

And the best way to get it? Visit the fish market early in the morning. I just looove that vibe: the shouts, the smells, the organized chaos. Fishermen doing their thing with pride.

Read on the label where they catched it: you want local and Atlantic, not aquaculture.

Learn to buy with your eyes. This is fish as it should be: bright, clear eyes, and that unmistakable shine of life. Full of flavor, fresh from the ocean, catched with love.

Do’s & don’ts

Do’s:

Ask where and when it was caught
Buy what’s fresh and local, not just what’s on your list
Use everything: the bones are perfect for a rich, healthy broth
Eat your fish as natural as possible: just olive oil, salt, and a squeeze of lime. Perfect with a glass of vinho verde 🙂

Don’ts:

Don’t buy fish on Mondays: boats don’t go out on Sundays
Skip the imports: local fish tastes exactly like the ocean you’re looking at
Don’t rush it: cooking fish is simple, but timing is everything

Final thoughts

Living beside the ocean, learning from a fisherman, and tasting fish that was alive just hours ago has changed the way I see food. It’s not just about flavor: it’s about connection, patience, respect, and the joy of simplicity.

Every fish, every market, every bite is a little reminder that the sea gives freely, if we know how to receive it.