Saltfish is a key item in Caribbean cooking, and it is used to create tasty treats like ackee & saltfish, saltfish frittters, saltfish and callaloo plus much more. But how much do we actually know about this tasty salted product?
Where does saltfish come from?
What does saltfish look like?
These questions inspired me to scour the Internet, and read articles related to saltfish. At first it was difficult to find information or pictures, about this tasty fish that most Caribbean people eat at least once per week. Then after liaising with various sources, I recieved some UNBELIEVABLE pictures in an e-mail, which claim to be saltfish in it’s natural state.
Take a look at the pictures below PLEASE NOTE If you frighten easily do not view these pictures…
Caribb food lovers what do you think, could this really be what saltfish really looks like???
Hum….as far as I can remember when ever you ask a Caribbean elder what sort of fish is a saltfish, and what does it look like they always say “saltfish is cod fish, but no one nuh see wha it look like, mi hear seh it’s a ugly looking thing that has a beard and almost look human”.
After seeing this pictures I may never eat…..
Share your thoughts
Editor – Sherene http://www.caribbeanrecipekits.com
Caribbeanrecipekits's Blog 
Kelly
December 22, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I really want to know if a saltfish really looks like that…..y? because i eat saltfish!!!, and that thing is ugly.
carol
June 18, 2011 at 2:56 am
Yes It Is.. Looks like an ALIEN… Is It really the fish that you eat???? And where does It come from?????? DANG!!!!! SMH… Looks like you just eat the bottom tail part… Myself not eating any of it……
Denise
October 1, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Kelly that is not how saltfisk look in its natural state………….don’t believe the crazy hype!
shereen purcell
August 18, 2013 at 2:59 pm
Then what does it looks like?
……can you share your pics of it please?
kaydeen moncrieffe
June 2, 2014 at 5:33 pm
oh really
dj della
January 9, 2012 at 9:17 am
its like that!its wat we all love,…
jaja4life
September 11, 2013 at 12:31 pm
it looks like a human dam
Robert D.
December 28, 2010 at 8:21 pm
I don’t think so…first of all the kind of salt fish we caribbeans eat is called salted cod fish..is cod fish salted and dried up…to me the kind of salt fish you just showed me is some other kind of salt fish maybe found in the unknown patrt of seas…but if I’am wrong please correct me.
Meme
May 29, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Thats not real!
Makeda
October 30, 2013 at 4:10 pm
your not wrong Robert D. That thing doesnt look like saltfish at all. I’m from jamaica and i eat salted “cod” fish……not that thing!!!!!!
makayla
January 4, 2011 at 9:14 pm
nasty cutfish not good
kaydeen moncrieffe
June 2, 2014 at 5:34 pm
ait look aaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwfffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllll
makayla
January 4, 2011 at 9:25 pm
that is not food to eat
marcus
February 1, 2011 at 11:27 am
It is a known fact that saltfish is so ugly (as seen in pics)
the fishermen cut the head at sea.
If saltfish is codfish why hav I never heard anyone buying codfish
And salt n dry it themselves as I’m sure it would be more economical.
Always remember you are what you eat….(Headless) lol
Millie
February 4, 2011 at 10:25 am
This is a joke. It’s obvious to me that someone is having a laugh.
roshane
February 17, 2011 at 1:35 pm
no saltfish is make from alot of fish including whales saltfish which is one of the most common saltfish
Jack
February 25, 2011 at 12:37 pm
joke business dat man! stop frighten people!!!!!!
caribbeanrecipekits
March 4, 2011 at 11:52 am
I’m still no closer to solving the saltfish mystery but there’s something @Marcus said which is very true, fishermen cut the head off of saltfish out at sea which now leaves the question WHY?
Meme
May 29, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Wise up people! Sheesh lol how cld that be real? And it looks like its supposdly just caught, because it in grass. So why it look dry and salted already?. Lol please!!!!
Lexia
May 10, 2011 at 4:19 pm
same suh me seh tooo
Heather
March 17, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Someone is pranking you. The reason that Jamaica says these things about salt fish is because it’s a legend. The salt fish is actually COD, which is sold almost everywhere in america. The reason you don’t hear about people buying cod is because it’s not called cod in Jamaica. It’s called Salt Fish.
THESE PICTURES were taken by Juan Cabana, of his SCULPTURE “O Cruel Sea”. This sculpture was made using a human skeleton covered in real fish skin, scales, teeth and fins. It was then dried, and the pictures were taken of the finished product. An unknown person saw his website, took these pictures from this site, and ran them in tabloids as a mermaid.
If you don’t believe me, please look up Juan Cabana’s website. This picture is the first one you see, under which is a link to a page of him explaining how he made it, and even showing the first tabloids it was involved in.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but these pictures are of a sculpture created by a man. Not of a dead mermaid.
Lexia
May 10, 2011 at 4:18 pm
that is not necessarily true heather
Meme
May 29, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Wow
Jamisa David-Braithwaite
September 13, 2011 at 12:23 pm
HAHAHA!!!! Thanks for that!!
Abigail Walters
September 26, 2011 at 1:08 am
shut up!!!
Heather
March 17, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Also, I’ve finally discovered that while imitation salt fish can be made with any salt-water fish (hence the name salt fish), real true salt fish is, in fact, COD. That’s ALL.
The reason they cut off the heads before bringing it on shore? Because COD aren’t the prettiest fish in the ocean. In fact, way back in the day, Jamaicans thought that the COD fish was the ugliest fish in the sea- and probably for good reason, considering how beautiful all their other fish are. And so, the legend started that if you saw the head of the COD fish (or salt fish), that you wouldn’t want to eat it anymore.
Also, it is said that a long time ago, COD fish did, in fact, have nose-like bumps on their faces, making them look eerily human-like in the face. Another reason the heads were cut off.
But, if you really want to see the head of a Salt Fish, here’s a link: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090519/life/life1.html
The woman actually talks to a full-blood Jamaican lady about the picture on that site, and the lady talks to her about the legend of Salt Fish.
Jamisa David-Braithwaite
September 13, 2011 at 12:24 pm
This is also the case with Red sea Bream!! Thank You Heather!!
carlah
May 4, 2011 at 9:13 pm
listen im full jamaican ive been through thick and thin with jamaica ……….i have alot of links across the world………and for those who do believe that this is the creature salt fish you are only fooling your self my grannny buys salt fish from the market like every saturday and that is not how it looks ….their playin tricks on you this is one of juan cabana’s art work of a mermaid
Lexia
May 10, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Me freaky bad so if a suh saltfish look that is no problem…. me eat uglyer than that… u wana see …
d!v@ r@e
May 10, 2011 at 4:09 pm
welllllll sailfish codfish wateva u name mi nyam u nt knwing wat u looked like nw seeing u doesnt make a damn difference bt nooooo lie u fucking ulgy
Lexia
May 10, 2011 at 4:17 pm
well, i must say that i am a little disturbed at the sight of the creature’s appearance. i have eaten salt fish for many years and it has always been a pleasurable experience for me…. now that I’ve seen you though, it doesn’t make a damn difference. right now i will go and eat some ackee and salt fish with boiled dumplings and yam and banana… salt fish too good to not eat.. if we start to take into consideration the appearance of the food we eat, then we would have nothing to eat!!!!!!!!!!! we would most definately starve
analis
June 5, 2011 at 8:46 pm
thats righ u tell em
val
May 17, 2011 at 10:04 pm
all bloody myths what u a sey black people a eat man mermaid its bloody ugly its not a salt fish its a bloody joke…lol not dinner how me a go eat me ackee.. its not the same with cod…lol…it makes me think as i have heard from my parents that if u see the head u nah ehat the fish…????????????????
val
May 17, 2011 at 10:06 pm
some on is having a laugh its a man looking hungry looking like a salt fish to scare us all… and stop us enjoying our native dish…lol
analis
June 5, 2011 at 8:44 pm
i personaly think this is not a real saltfish because i’ve been fishing before and this is not one this is a related spicies that was expeiremented on .ps.im thirteen people grow up
sheshe
June 20, 2011 at 12:51 pm
im not worried about what salt fish looks like but that creature looks like something that shouldnt be on the earth at this point in time where the hell did thae come from ??? really it looks like a super human / ogor i dont like it
Keri
June 22, 2011 at 3:07 am
This is a sculpture created by Juan Cabana!
He’s obsessed with Mermaids, and sells his sculptures to whoever wants to buy it.
Below is the link to his website to prove its fake. Telling everybody this is saltfish isn’t funny, because there are idiots out there that will really believe it.
http://www.thefeejeemermaid.com/
Sefton simpson
July 4, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Ha ha ha lol Saltfish my foot!! If that is a saltfish there would be no black fishermen!!
alan
September 5, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Many types of salTEd fish and remember at the tower of babel. Some human bean were curse and
Turn into other. Creatures. Kind of apes etc
Jamisa David-Braithwaite
September 13, 2011 at 12:21 pm
First and foremost.. There is more than ONE type of salted fish!!! There’s Salted Cod, There’s Ling fish which is also a type of cod, Salted shark, salted shad and much much more.. If you’re buying salted fish, wouldn’t it be best to read the ingredients of what you’re buying?? So my advice is read before you buy, if you don’t want to risk buying that creature in the photos don’t pick up a packet that says Salt fish because you don’t know what exactly you’re eating or if you’re buying food from a shop as them what type of salt fish it is they used to prepare the dish.. Its better to use common sense to be safe than sorry..
Prince Pin AFL
September 25, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Jah now it resembles Vybz Kartel!!!!lol lol , and straight up I don’t eat saltfish!!
harmony
October 1, 2011 at 11:29 pm
the person that believes that this is what a saltfich look like is a real rass !!!!!!!!!
kemeisha beharie
October 5, 2011 at 8:33 am
I don’t believe it!!! I’d have to see it for myself!
kaydeen moncrieffe
May 29, 2014 at 7:36 pm
me too dat look like a demons or a dead body
nadine
October 11, 2011 at 1:09 am
where in this world do we find that creature that they said is salf fish
Sweety
October 24, 2011 at 9:51 pm
It looks scary dehman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kaydeen moncrieffe
May 29, 2014 at 7:31 pm
hmmmmmmmmmmmmm sick my stomach
Trudy Backas
November 26, 2011 at 3:53 pm
what the hell is this for real guys plz say it is not so cause i realy love it and if this is true i am not eating it again sorry , plz tell some boady let me know quick plz so I can throw out the ones i have now .please ty and have a good day
Wendy
December 7, 2011 at 1:47 am
These pictures represent the work of sombody with photoshop skills and a warped sense of humour, playing on the lazy minds of the ignorant who could simply check information for themselves, and not believe every piece of silly crap idle people put out!
Go google Canadian codfish and see what it is Caribbean people eat.
Meme
May 29, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Thank you! Thought it was just me, knowing this is crap.
kaydeen moncrieffe
May 29, 2014 at 7:37 pm
it looks aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwfffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuulllllllllllllllll
cayla
December 20, 2011 at 4:24 pm
it is a true thing we it that because mi mo buy one and she see them
bianca
December 27, 2011 at 2:37 am
mi nuh belive
natasha bromfield
December 29, 2011 at 3:12 pm
That looks like a mermaid and I have been eatin somebody
what else would it be?
January 4, 2012 at 10:26 pm
this is soooo stupid who would believe that stupidness go search it up on google youll feel so dumb and retarded
verona
May 2, 2012 at 3:21 pm
totally. this is so ridiculous.
Melissia Howell
January 10, 2012 at 2:43 am
mi nuh care weh nuh body wah seh mi a eat salt fish frm mi likkle n if it neva kill mi den it nah kill mi nw suh it cuda ugly likkle mre mi still a nyam it rass
Devont'e Sinisterr
March 20, 2012 at 9:15 pm
My gurl u kno d ting…..
bungce
January 27, 2012 at 7:43 am
saltfish r nuh saltfish i grow up eatn it n i aint stpn (ful.stp)
slimerz
March 1, 2012 at 8:03 pm
that looks like a human……………………OMG.how comes all other fish people are seeing ther head and we cant see the codfish head ?that has arms and and looks like a human i can never eat that again……………………………………………………
Sim
August 11, 2014 at 11:17 am
There is no such thing as ‘Salt Fish’ … Salting the fish is a process, hence why it’s called Salt Fish!!… The fish used commonly is Cod but other types of fish can be used… But this is definitely is fake
Alfred Poyser
March 19, 2012 at 9:03 pm
I hope you all know that this is fake
do not believe everything you see online
this is not real
Devont'e Sinisterr
March 20, 2012 at 9:09 pm
Ugly fish but it taste good”””, anyway it looks like that 4 real
sabrina
March 28, 2012 at 2:12 am
my god it ugly bad..i may never eat saltfish again but i still don’t really belive…that is how it looks,.
lavenet@yahoo.com
March 30, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Hello people!!! This is obviously a sculpture. Please google Juan Cabana and allow the rest of us to enjoy our salted cod fish that is known by jamaicans as saltfish.
reana
May 29, 2012 at 2:46 am
mi a stp nammm dat fran as 2day
Meme
May 29, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Thats not saltfish! Really tho? People are so easily fooled. Come on, if it looked like that they wld b doing expiraments on that beast. It looks like a ugly merman lol
Melanie
June 24, 2012 at 5:15 pm
If you’re not intelligent enough to believe that is not a real creature let alone salt fish. Then you skint deserve to nyam the salt fish.
Cod for cod salt fish comes from cod http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cod
Susanne
July 19, 2012 at 5:48 pm
No matter how it looks it taste really good
iron rose
July 26, 2012 at 3:01 am
dat mek it worse! Mi wah some right right now!
Lisa
August 1, 2012 at 10:42 pm
Salt fish is the same as cod fish. You can find it at any fish market. Those pictures are false. I make ackee and saltbush all the time with wild caught cod fish that I buy from Whole Foods
Lisa
August 1, 2012 at 10:43 pm
Salt fish is the same as cod fish. You can find it at any fish market. Those pictures are false. I make ackee and saltfish all the time with wild caught cod fish that I buy from Whole Foods
werty
September 29, 2012 at 8:47 pm
i do not eat saltfish than god
nicky
November 6, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Well if that is salfish head mi nuh care mi still a eat it bwoy it damn ugly though enuh and there must be a good reason as to why they cut off the head at sea but mi still naah stop nyam it and a wi national dish kmt but its a mystery enuh
Natalia Williams
November 9, 2012 at 6:56 pm
okay so my question is how do catch this fish is it tht it washes up on shore???
oshane
December 4, 2012 at 4:17 pm
i truly believe that it is how it looks… if there was not a problem with the head they wouldn’t have cut the head off to sell people… next thing why isn’t nobody ever seen it to can talk about it, until these photo come about. i think it is very disgusting and people should have the rite to know more about it.
felixia alxander
January 4, 2013 at 8:51 pm
thanks for ur idea jamisa them ppl dont know wat they doing they think every thing is to buy and dont read just eat just so
hences
February 3, 2013 at 10:36 pm
this is not salfish. it is just a boy dressed up as one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Donna B
March 27, 2013 at 10:09 pm
lololololol saltfish is just salt water cod. lololol whoever made that picture, good game.
Erica Allen
April 12, 2013 at 2:01 am
No way that’s saltfish!! That’s a RAT BAT MERMAID!!!!
sttj
September 5, 2013 at 10:12 pm
i just ate saltfish and this is what i see i just vomited and i will neve eat it again
jaja4life
September 11, 2013 at 12:35 pm
O M G THAT’S A FISH SOOOOO SADD!!!!!$$$$$
djm
October 30, 2013 at 11:43 pm
is that thing human but i mean come on it is delisious
creativesim
March 4, 2014 at 11:12 am
Looooool this is toooo funny… There is actually no fish called SaltFish…. SaltFish is just a piece of fish (which can be cod, pollock, snapper and even shark) which is then salt cured and dried… So the term ‘SaltFish’ is just how it is made, not what it actually is…x
kaydeen moncrieffe
May 29, 2014 at 7:35 pm
bye am going away my time is finish now bye it looks aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllllll
big c
July 16, 2014 at 6:36 pm
Im from st. Croix n my roots are st lucia. I grew up on salt fish and its real good. I mean the bible tells you not to eat swine better known as pork n ppl eat it everyday!