coloured /red salmon

popsy09

first year salmon fishing only just getting into it really but i am really after taking a shine to it and catching some cracking fish

what are peoples opinions on the coloured up fish ?

i know its late in the year and with low water there is going to be a lot around but are they essentially the same fish but just lose their silver look ? or do they go stale as such and shouldnt be eaten ?

reason i ask is i had 12 fish in last 3 visits to river 11 were returned safetly but one today about 7/8 lb got snagged in a weed bed it was a disaster really i ended up waiding out trying to free him getting soaked but he didnt survive so i tagged him and gave him to my uncle he was happy out but i hope i didnt just give him a free trip to hospital ha

so what ye think ? would ye kill a coloured fish

Eddie B

Personally i wouldn't take a coloured fish, but have seen lots taken over the years! They just dont look as fresh or as impressive as a silver fish that has just entered the river. They also dont fight as well as a fresh run fish. Saying that, they still taste as good so up 2 yourself really!

Budawanny

Its generally not the done thing. its often forbidden on some fisheries, however quantifying what a coloured fish is , is not trivial. For some if it doesn't have sea lice on it its not fresh ( which is a bit ridiculous)
No harm in keeping it if the fish is beyond help. It has happened to me a few times.
the flesh looses its pinkness and becomes paler as the time in river gets longer.
however its still grand for a while at least.

tin79

popsy09 wrote: »

first year salmon fishing only just getting into it really but i am really after taking a shine to it and catching some cracking fish

what are peoples opinions on the coloured up fish ?

i know its late in the year and with low water there is going to be a lot around but are they essentially the same fish but just lose their silver look ? or do they go stale as such and shouldnt be eaten ?

reason i ask is i had 12 fish in last 3 visits to river 11 were returned safetly but one today about 7/8 lb got snagged in a weed bed it was a disaster really i ended up waiding out trying to free him getting soaked but he didnt survive so i tagged him and gave him to my uncle he was happy out but i hope i didnt just give him a free trip to hospital ha

so what ye think ? would ye kill a coloured fish

From a food safety point of view the red fish should be fine to eat but post spawning kelts can accumulate a lot of toxins in the flesh and should be avoided.

As said though its generally not the done thing.

popsy09

had another 5 fish yesterday up to 12 lb approx all red but great fun , all returned safetly too, so taking one fish from so many cant do any harm and he had some today for dinner and it was lovely so i was happy

i must get up some pics in the other thread i had a cock fish about 10lb ish the "kype " or the hook jaw it had was amazing , i never seen one like it before the way the top lip forms like a cavity for the hook to slot in , was nice to see