I think the good eating size range for BFT is 40-200 pounds. After that the "Toro" part becomes bad. The fat almost turns into hard rubbery rows. The meat in between is ok. It really depends on what the fish are eating as well. I know those NE fish feeding off the scallop boats are super oily, just like the YFT in Venice, LA following the shrimp boats. The fish are super greasy with dark meat.
The guy I fished with in NC used to drag the live fish behind the boat after the catch while they were still alive. He had some sort of giant carabiner clip he would place through the lower jaw. The fish would look like it took a deep breath and the color came back. Then they drug it onto the boat and spiked the brain and bled it by cutting these 3 cords near the butthole and stabbing it through the heart. The blood left the fish in mere seconds. The meat color was far better and he sold the fish for much higher value than the morons on the TV show. Single fish were selling for like $65k to his buyer from Japan.
Out here we spike them, cut the gills and place them into the RSW tank (33 degree saltwater). Usually the meat is sashimi grade. I tend to sear or eat tuna raw. I have grilled our Albacore when they were around to catch. Bonito here in So-Cal are excellent if you bleed them and get them cold quickly. Very good raw. I had some seared skipjack and it was pretty decent too. Not much tops swordfish or wahoo to me. I hear Opah is good but I have never had it and we don't have them here in CA.
I have been very fortunate to have fished all over the US but working for a large fishing manufacturer helps. I still have a lot of boxes to check for fish I would like to catch in other countries. I just lack the money to go target them. I could give a shit less about catching billfish unless it's a sword and that would be purely for the meat. Panama (the country) was one of the best places I have fished to date. Several species and really good fishing. I fish lures 99.9% of the time so it was perfect for me. Bluefin Trevally, Roosterfish, Cubera Snapper, Almaco Jack, YFT, African Pompano...so many species. One of the guys even caught tarpon on the pacific side. Amazing fishery down there.
