Where to buy Tuna

When you come to Gensan, you cannot not eat tuna! It is compared to going to Thailand and not getting a Thai massage. Even though global trade and smart business people have made it easier for us to enjoy something that is unique to a certain place only, nothing beats having it in the place they come from. Like bagoong from Pangasinan or lanzones from Camiguin. Even white sand from Boracay can be found somewhere else!

Now as I was saying, when you come to Gensan, you would surely ask, “where can we get tuna?”.

If you want to be ultra-touristic, you should go to the Fishport located in Tambler. If you are going to commute, you have to get on a jeep that will go to the Fishport. These jeepneys pass Pioneer avenue or the public market. But before you go there, make sure you are wearing boots and wearing long pants and sleeved shirt if you really want to get into the market areas. Otherwise, you can’t see eye-to-eye with the big tunas. Fish sold at the Fishport is cheaper than other places you can buy them from. What’s more, the fish are fresh from the sea, eyes bright and flesh firm they are such a delight to sea. You will not find other kinds of fishes and seafoods there too. If you are driving your own vehicle, there is a minimal entrance fee per vehicle.

Or you can  go to the public market. Don’t go in the early mornings, go around 10am when fish dealers have come from the Fishport. One tip don’t look fancy and don’t wear open toe slippers.

If you would like to buy precut, blast frozen tuna cuts or tuna-value added products, you can visit the following stores:

• Pacific Seas (national highway and aparente st.)
• Citra Mina (national highway, tambler and davao)
• RDEX (RD plaza, national highway)
• Jobit Tuna Deli (magsaysay avenue)

Citra Mina is the forerunner of these frozen tuna shops. They are quite expensive than the other stores but the quality, I would say, is good. I personally like buying from Pacific seas because the prices are good and the staff know when to talk and what to say (haha!). Jobit’s hotdogs and franks are yummy. RDEX’s tuna sticks and nuggets are ok.

There are also tuna products in grocery stores though I have not seen the above brands in there. There are actually other companies selling tuna but they have not set up shop in the downtown area.