First shipment of Alaska’s coveted Copper River salmon to arrive in Seattle Tuesday

SEATAC, Wash. — The first shipment of Alaska’s Copper River salmon is set to arrive at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Tuesday morning, marking the start of the season.

The Alaska Air flight carrying thousands of pounds of salmon is scheduled to arrive at the Alaska Air Cargo Warehouse at around 8 a.m.

The salmon is sought for its moistness and rich flavor due to the high fat and oil the fish store up ahead of their long and arduous journey up the rugged Copper River.

The annual spring tradition comes with much fanfare when the Boeing “Salmon-Thirty-Salmon” arrives from Cordova, Alaska. The Alaska Air pilots then step out of the plane holding up a Copper River King in a triumphant moment and applause from onlookers who gathered for the event.

Seattle celebrity chef Tom Douglas will be at the celebration to make a delicious fresh dish from the first catch.

The salmon will then be delivered to grocery stores, fish markets, and restaurants across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

In addition to its rich flavor, the salmon is also known for its notoriously high prices, especially for the King variety at the start of the season.

Pike Place Fish Market is pre-selling King filets for $79.99 a pound or Sockeye for $69.99 a pound. If you want to go the online route and have the fish shipped, you can pre-order two, eight-ounce portions of wild Copper River King salmon for $69 from Alaska’s Copper River Seafoods.

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