( CNN ) Why is this Passover different than other Passovers ? Because you may not have any gefilte fish at your table on Passover , which starts at sundown on April 3 . February 's record cold temperatures are to blame for the shortage of fish ingredients , reported Erica Marcus , a food writer at Newsday , the Long Island , New York , newspaper . `` The traditional Passover appetizer is made from ground whitefish , carp and yellow pike , '' Marcus wrote . `` All three are freshwater fish from the Upper Midwest , and all three are in short supply this spring because the Great Lakes are still covered with ice . '' While some restaurants reported having no supply issues , it may be a different story for the home cook . There 's great debate within the Jewish community about the flavor of the classic gefilte fish dish , which is n't always the tastiest food at the table . `` I 've never seen what all the fuss is about , '' Marcus told CNN . `` It 's about as challenging a taste as tuna fish salad . '' The fishing boats just ca n't sail or fish on frozen lakes . Many of the Great Lakes are still partially frozen over , according to fisheries expert Ronald Kinnunen , an educator with Michigan State University 's Sea Grant Extension Program . `` Nobody 's getting their fishing boats out , '' Kinnunen said . `` I 'm looking at the satellite images and Lake Superior 's half covered in ice , '' he said . It 's still iced over at the Mackinac Bridge , where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan come together at the Straits of Mackinac , he added . Blame an early Passover this year . Next year , it will likely be better for fishing . Passover does n't start until sunset on April 22 , much later in the month . The fish dish is not a religious requirement of the Seder dinner , but do n't try telling that to cooks searching for the right ingredients for their classic recipes . If your mother or other host is mourning not having the dish at the table this year , offer to make chicken Kotletky or another offering from CNN Eatocracy 's list of Passover recipes from around the world .
Cold factors are to blame for limited availability of freshwater fish . Some Passover restaurants do not have any gefilte fish on the menu .