Where to Find the Best Copper River Salmon

Copper River salmon is one of the most prized wild salmon varieties, renowned for its deep orange-red color, high oil content, and superb flavor. Every spring, fishermen in Alaska eagerly await the beginning of the Copper River salmon season, which only lasts from mid-May through mid-June. During this brief window, these incredible fish make their journey from the Pacific Ocean upstream to spawn in the glacial waters of the Copper River. Read on to learn all about Copper River salmon and where you can get your hands on this incredible seasonal delicacy.

What Makes Copper River Salmon So Special?

The remoteness of the Copper River is one of the key factors that makes its salmon so unique. The river is located 300 miles east of Anchorage, Alaska and flows 300 miles from its headwaters in the Wrangell Mountains to the Gulf of Alaska. This pristine environment helps produce salmon with bright vivid color and a higher oil content compared to other salmon varieties

The salmon accumulate these desirable traits from their natural diet of zooplankton and krill while swimming in the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the North Pacific and Bering Sea. The arduous 900-mile journey upstream also helps burn fat reserves in the salmon, further concentrating the oils and deepening the flesh color

Copper River salmon are always wild-caught, never farmed. They are fished sustainably by a small group of fishermen during a season that is very competitive and closely regulated. Each year, only about 30,000 salmon are caught, making this seasonal treat even more rare.

When and Where to Buy Copper River Salmon

The Copper River salmon season kicks off in mid-May each year with the arrival of the treasured king salmon. The season runs 6-8 weeks, concluding in mid-June when the salmon run peters out.

During this brief window, Copper River salmon can be found at specialty seafood markets, high-end grocery stores, and fishmongers in Alaska as well as select retailers in the Pacific Northwest, New York City, and even online:

Alaska

The best places to buy Copper River salmon within Alaska are seafood markets and grocery stores in Anchorage, including:

• 10th & M Seafoods
• New Sagaya Midtown Market
• Three Bears
• Carrs Safeway
• Fred Meyer
• Catch 49

Many retailers in Cordova, Alaska, where the Copper River fleet is based, also carry Copper River salmon including The Copper River Seafoods Market. Fishermen sell salmon directly off their boats here as well.

Pacific Northwest

During the season, Copper River salmon is flown into Seattle, Portland, and other cities in the Pacific Northwest and sold at a number of grocery stores and seafood markets. Top spots include:

• City Fish (Seattle)
• Wild Salmon Seafood Market (Seattle)
• Seafood Northwest (Seattle)
• Ocean Beauty Seafoods (Seattle)
• Flying Fish Company (Portland)
• Harbor Fish Market (Portland)
• New Seasons Market (Portland and Seattle)

Beyond the Pacific Northwest

Thanks to air freight delivery, some specialty fish markets and high-end grocers have access to small quantities of Copper River salmon. Notable retailers include:

• Citarella (New York City)
• Fulton Fish Market (New York City)
• D’Artagnan (Newark, NJ – mail order)

Online

Several Copper River fishermen and seafood companies now offer overnight delivery of salmon fillets packed in dry ice. This includes:

• Copper River Salmon Direct (Cordova, AK)
• Ocean Beauty Seafoods (Seattle, WA)
• Trident Seafoods (Seattle, WA)
• Wild For Salmon (Bellingham, WA)

What to Look for When Buying Copper River Salmon

Copper River salmon is hard to come by, so some stores try to sell cheaper salmon with the coveted Copper River name on it. Here are tips for identifying authentic Copper River salmon:

• Bright, deep orange-red color – Paler salmon is likely not true Copper River salmon.

• Firm, fatty flesh – Press your finger into the meat and it should bounce back. The high oil content will be visible.

• Strong salmon aroma – Take a whiff of the salmon. It should have a robust fishy smell.

• Tight translucent gray flesh – The color gradient from the orange flesh to the white fat cap should be gradual.

• Clear eyes – Cloudy eyes indicate the salmon has been previously frozen.

• Whole Salmon – Buy a whole fish when possible so you can visually inspect its color and quality.

• Deeper red tips on the meat – This indicates the salmon was bled out immediately after catch.

• Trusted retailer – Buy directly from a reputable retailer like a specialty seafood market.

How to Cook Copper River Salmon

Copper River salmon can be prepared many ways, but simple preparations are best to appreciate its rich flavor and velvety texture:

• Grilled – Rub with a bit of olive oil, season, and grill skin-side down until nearly cooked through.

• Baked – Bake 10-15 minutes at 400F after seasoning. Broil 2-3 minutes to crisp the skin.

• Pan-seared – Sear skin-side down in an oiled pan. Flip once halfway through cooking.

• Poached – Gently simmer 3-4 minutes in broth or white wine.

• Sashimi – Slice thin and serve raw to showcase its velvety texture.

• Cedar Plank – Roast on a soaked cedar plank for added smoky flavor.

Allow the salmon’s natural rich fattiness to shine through by avoiding heavy sauces or complicated seasoning blends. Asqueeze of lemon or light drizzle of olive oil is all that’s needed to serve this incredible fish at its best.

The Bottom Line

Copper River salmon is a uniquely flavored wild Alaska salmon that is harvested for just a few precious weeks each spring. Seek it out at high-end retailers in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and New York during May and June. Choose whole fish when possible and look for the deep orange-red color, firm fatty flesh, and robust aroma. Enjoy this seasonal delicacy simply prepared to appreciate its complex richness and velvety texture. The unparalleled eating experience of Copper River salmon is well worth seeking out each spring.