Has anybody else seen a brownish colored crappie meat?
Is this normal?



I put some 'normal' white crappie filets next to the brown ones. On Palestine at the GTG, there were some that were a lot browner. Especially the black crappie that came from under the boat docks. I wish I had pictures of them.
These are from Fork. I don't know if it is normal for stressed fish or summer fish. Doesn't look good to me.

I always assumed that was fat. But then again I have never seen one with that shade of color.

It is normal .... Palestine, RC, and Fork all have off colored meat at times.
Probably their diet.

Yup! Lot darker than that, out of the Concho River

interesting meat coloration
I am of the opinion if the fish looked ok in the beginning
and there isn't something looking like an infestation inside it
it is probably ok to eat them
I wonder if they actually taste different

I didn't know if I wuz just paranoid. When the black crappie from under the docks had it, I thought it could be they were ingesting vegetation killer or something they put on the docks. When it also happened on Fork, I was thinking it could be a chemical they're using for Zebra mussels. It just don't look right...
I suppose it is just summer stress... or eating mud.

I am very "picky", will throw it away.

Caught some catfish on Lake 'O' the Pines last week like that. I don't think it's anything to worry about.

Must be a smoker

Nothing to lose a meal over. It may not be common but not unusual either. They are good to go.

Well there you go. You have your white meat and now your dark meat.

That's funny right there....

Maybe there is a little yellow bass back in the gene pool somewhere.

It may be blood from stress ..... I can't tell any difference in taste either.

Dude, I wouldn't eat it if I was you!!!!! I would cook it your favorite way and then send it to me to make sure it is safe to eat. If I survive, I'll let you know so you can eat it yourself next time.

This also goes for anyone wanting to try out a new recipe.