Salmon question

[gone fishin]

I am not sure that this is the right forum to post this question, but will try and get an answer. My son in law has returned from NY - Salmon River fishing and has had some good success catching large on the flyrod. He returned with plenty of filets and most meat is pink in color, but a few fish rendered white meat filets. When the guide filleted the fish he even commented that some of the 60 or so fish he filleted had white colored meat. He couldn't give a reason for it.

Anyone out there has any experience with salmon and can answer the question?

[Fungus]

I was told that the white/grey meat in the salmon is because they have stopped feeding and have been in the river for a long time. They may even be post spawn fish. I was told that it has something to do with the biological changes the fish undergo on their non-feeding death march to spawn.

Not sure if that is true. However my observation when I used to go up there was that the bright fish that were new in the river were pink and the older dark fish that were post spawn were white/grey.

[stiff tip]

dont eat that stuff, its startin to rot... only very fresh fish from the delta (lower) river is safe ... when they turn lite there past eatin...we called them buffulo fish ,black w/ white spots.... i dont eat those salmon or fish from ny

[Striperhound]

I was a guide on Lake Ontario for many years. The fish caught in the river in early October are near death and end of thier life cycle. It is true that the meat is going through biological changes and degrading. I have had many customers keep these fish and eat them with the only complaint that they were a touch more fishy in taste. Other than that if they were handled correctly and iced the quality is still edible but it wont be your best dining experience.

[zacs]

usually they will be more mushy too. i am speaking of the pac nw varieties, but I would imagine its the same.
Z

[Pete F.]

I have a friend that smokes them. Then they taste like smoke.
I'd say they are not bright fish.

[baldwin]

Just drink a lot of beer with 'em.

[Adamfishes]

what does he smoke and then it tastes good?