There are many different types of salmon that boast their own unique profile when it comes to taste, texture, and flavor. Copper River salmon, while having their own unique texture and flavor profile, are actually not their own distinct salmon type. “Copper River salmon” can refer to sockeye salmon, coho salmon, or king salmon that originate in the Copper River. What makes these Copper River fish different from salmon from other fisheries is the river’s unique ecosystem.
Why Does Copper River Salmon Taste So Good?
The Copper River is a 300-mile long river in central Alaska. The river itself flows from sea level to an elevation of 3,600 ft., with frigid, glacial waters that make the migration journey up this river fairly taxing for the fish. Because of this, the salmon have biologically adapted to the colder circumstances by having more fat — giving them higher amounts of omega-3 fats than salmon from other fisheries.
Why Is Copper River Salmon So Popular?
In addition to higher amounts of omega-3, the extra fat also results in buttery, succulent fillets that are sought after by home cooks and Michelin chefs. Despite there being many different types of salmon found in this river, Copper River king salmon is most popular due to its coveted taste and firm-yet-buttery texture.
First Wild Runs Of The Year
Another reason Copper River Salmon are so well-known is that they are the first wild salmon available each season. These wild salmon in particular can only be found in Alaskan waters, and farming them is illegal.
With these bans against farming wild salmon, the availability of Copper River salmon in specific is limited every year. Their runs are seasonal, and the size of each run varies immensely every year. Sockeyes and kings arrive starting in mid-May. While king salmon continue to travel through the waters through June, sockeyes can stick around as long as early August. Coho salmon arrive around July and run through September.
Wild Alaskan Company is proud to source much of its sockeye salmon from Bristol Bay, where Founder Arron Kallenberg worked as a third generation commercial fisherman. The bounty of Bristol Bay — the largest sockeye spawning ground on the planet — has played a key part in inspiring Wild Alaskan Company’s mission.
Pictured above: A view from a fishing vessel near Cordova, Alaska, a town near the mouth of the Copper River.
