First Copper River salmon arrives in Seattle

SEATAC, Wash. — A true sign summer is here -- Copper River Salmon in local markets and restaurants.

Quick Facts:

• Copper River salmon known for high oil content, rich flavor
• Arrival is celebrated every year
• Prices expected to be driven down by large supply
• Initial price expected to be about $25 per pound for King

Alaska Airlines pilots carried the ceremonial first fish from the plane at Sea-Tac Airport Friday morning followed by the annual cook-off.

KIRO 7's Jeff Dubois got his hands on one of the salmon, celebrated for its rich flavor due to higher oil content, overnight.

QFC staff emailed KIRO 7 Thursday and said they were getting a shipment of Copper River Salmon at midnight that was flown in on a commercial flight late Thursday night.

The store only received 100 pounds in the first shipment, but it’s the first Copper River Salmon that can be purchased in Western Washington.

Apparently, it was kind of a slow opening day on the water. Only 30,000 fish were caught Thursday.

Last year, 150,000 were reeled in on the first day.

The initial price will be fairly modest, somewhere in the $25 per pound range, this first weekend. The price always comes down in the following weeks.

The season is supposed to be a big one. Alaska's Department of Fish and Game predicts more than 2 million fish are in the river this year.

The large supply could bring prices down quicker than normal.

KIRO