08/21/2022
Biweekly Fish Fact Friday:
Have you ever caught a fish that had an off color to the flesh? You might have thought that's weird and just cooked it anyway, or you became concerned and threw it out. But did you know its actually safe to eat and a common natural phenomenon!
These two filets came from 2 largemouth bass caught in the same location. The difference in appearance is caused by a pigments known as xanthophylls. These pigments can give fish flesh a yellow color, the higher the concentration or pigments the more yellow. Both are perfectly safe to eat!
These pigments typically come from the plants the fish are eating. In the case of largemouth bass since they are predatory it is likely obtained from the fish they ate. You can notice this coloration phenomenon in the egg yolks as well!
Big thank you to Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries division page for sharing this
