What visual sign, when observing a whole, commercially sold large fish like Bigeye, indicates a recent catch?

Answer

Clear, bulging eyes.

The clarity and physical state of a fish's eyes serve as a reliable, immediate indicator of its overall freshness, a principle that applies strongly to large commercial fish like Bigeye. When a fish has been recently caught and properly handled, its eyes should appear clear, meaning they lack cloudiness or milky discoloration, and they should remain bulging, indicating internal structure has not collapsed due to time or improper storage. If one intends to consume parts near the eye, this visual check becomes even more critical, as degraded eyes signal a rapid decline in quality throughout the rest of the flesh.

What visual sign, when observing a whole, commercially sold large fish like Bigeye, indicates a recent catch?
fisheatBig Eye