What to do with a dark Salmon?

[wet spot]

This Labour Day weekend I caught a 29 lb. extremely dark black/pink spring salmon at the big Q. Normally I would release a fish this dark but we were having a family derby so i kept it knowing it would be the biggest fish. Now my question is what to do with it for best eating....filet it, Indian candy, smoke, smoke and can, can as is??? Any suggestions (recipes) with rationale would be greatly appreciated.

PS - next time i'll know better - just take the various measurements (girth length etc) to estimate the weight and let it go on its way!

 

[alwaysfishn]

Prepare it however you normally prepare it. Natives in the interior have been enjoying dark fish for hundreds of years....

 

[Heavyc]

Ive heard that if you rub a black spring with a sliced lemon after its caught, the silver colour comes back to the scales.

 

[swamp donkey]

i live in the interior and have kept quite a few darkies. i always smoke mine. i feel the texture becomes a little too soft for the bbq! smoke it and you wont notice any difference. in my oppinion.

 

[high tide]

As others have said, it should be OK But any dark one's (without any pink mind you) I do usually smoke. Example is the Springs from Nootka Sound get particularly dark early.

And if you don't likethat you could .........

Stitch the mouth closed, gut it only from the butt hole, stick your foot in it and wear it like a boot. hahaha

HT

 

[Fish Assassin]

Smoke it.......The meat on those Q fish is great even on the BBq. The meat is still firm and red. People take alot worse out of the river and eat it.

 

[Dennis.t]

As others have said, it should be OK But any dark one's (without any pink mind you) I do usually smoke. Example is the Springs from Nootka Sound get particularly dark early.

And if you don't likethat you could .........

Stitch the mouth closed, gut it only from the butt hole, stick your foot in it and wear it like a boot. hahaha

HT

HA ha ha , thats too funny. The best way to preserve a dark fish is to put them back hence they came.

 

[Island Fish Lifter]

This Labour Day weekend I caught a 29 lb. extremely dark black/pink spring salmon at the big Q. Normally I would release a fish this dark but we were having a family derby so i kept it knowing it would be the biggest fish. Now my question is what to do with it for best eating....filet it, Indian candy, smoke, smoke and can, can as is??? Any suggestions (recipes) with rationale would be greatly appreciated.

PS - next time i'll know better - just take the various measurements (girth length etc) to estimate the weight and let it go on its way!

Crab bait..

 

[banger17]

i don't think the dark colour means they are crap... they taste damn fine on the smoker!

 

[Hoochiebob]

Prepare it like you would any other salmon. Caught an old boot that I would of released if it wasn't bleeding so bad and was surprised how good it tasted. Meat looked normal and was nice and firm. Dispelled a misconception I had about dark fish, although I will still release the dark ones when I catch them.If they have made it that far,then I believe they deserve to make it the whole way.