Help!? Parasite or disease in chinook salmon?

[dfrase]

Hi all
Landed a beauty high teens spring off hornby last night. Great battle and fish could not have looked healthier.
Went to clean it an hr later and as i was cutting off the rib bones on one side, i noticed a dark purple pocket in the flesh. It was about the size of a quarter. It looked like a burst blood vessel to be honest but want opinion from the experts. I am smoking it but want to be sure its all good before feeding to family.
The pic is after i cut it all apart and looked for parasites (found none). Originally it was a small contained purple quarter size pocket right behind the ribs. No external markings and the meat looks great.
Thanks guys
Dfrase

 

[advTHXance]

I don't have any tangible science to base this on, but I would cut that chunk of meat out and use it for hali/crab bait. No way would I risk feeding that to others, even if it is most likely harmless.

 

[firemann911]

To me it looks like bruising, could have been caused when netting or if it flopped around in the back of your boat when you brought it aboard.

I don't believe there is any harm in eating the meat.

 

[dfrase]

ok thanks Gents. yea i thought maybe bruising or a burst blood vessel from exertion. my wife did wack it with the net a few times trying to get it in.

i definitely wont be eating that small piece and it will go in the prawn trap. i was just planning on smoking the rest and will freeze it before eating.

 

[ryanb]

Harmless bruising. See it sometimes on the top of the shoulder when I'm a bit far back with the wood shampoo.

 

[Kildonan]

I've also seen this a few times and just cut around it. I'm still here to tell the tale after eating the fish.

 

[TheBigGuy]

As already mentioned. Cut around it. Use a bit heavier salt in your brine than you would normally. Salt content kills a lot of the nasties in meat. Then just to be really safe freeze for at least 48 hours before eating. All should be good with those precautions.

 

[Redfisher]

Bruising of fish. Hitting fish will bruise flesh. I normally tear a gill and let them bleed out. Big springs get a single crack on top of skull with gaff handle.