salmon flesh difference

[ampersat]

a buddy of mine at work asked me to post his question. and i quote:
"We caught two identical looking chrome bright chinooks on the Siletz Saturday, 18 and 19 lb. bucks. One had pale/pink flesh and the other was bright orange/red, very distinctively different in appearance. I've seen this before but do not have an explanation. Can someone clarify this?"

To my knowledge, these fish were handled the same, in terms of bleeding and processing.

Also, does anyone have any input regarding differences in how they taste?

[ 10-15-2001: Message edited by: ampersat ]

[ 10-15-2001: Message edited by: ampersat ]

[CAGEY]

The only thing i have been told about this is that it depends a lot on what the fish has been eating. Its my understanding that if the fish had a high intake of shrimp the flesh would be quite red where as the other not consuming high levels of shrimp would or could have a lighter colored flesh. Nothing scientific, just what i was told.

[Threemuch]

Not sure I can clarify, but the same thing happens in the ocean. Some fish are bright red, others paler in color, orange, light pink, even white.

I have had numerous discussions, and even asked a couple fishery biologists and it is either genetic or diet related. Some believe that salmon with a diet heavy on krill will have better flesh color. Others believe that it is a genetic predispostion. I have never seen a definitive answer, only opinions.

[Johnny Mac]

Were they bled differently?