My catfish turns yellow and Im not sure why. I store them in the freezer like I would with any other fillets. Freezer bags full of water and the fillets. But only the cats turn yellow. Is there an explenation or is this common, and is it ok to feed to the kids?

I live by a principle, if I have to question it than its best not to even try. Especially when its something that can make you really sick. I dont know why its yellow but definitely dont feed your kids.

-Z

If they are channelcat they are always yellow

I'm pretty darn sure they were yellow to some extent when you cleaned them. Channel cats will often have a yellow tint along the top portion of the fillet. It's very common and perfectly ok to eat. That is if you kept them cold and didn't let them spoil in the heat before freezing.

Yes they are channel cats, but not yellow when cleaned. They turn yellow after freeze, and its just the edges of the fillets. I guess they are ok but first time ive seen this.

If you are curious, remember, use your nose!! You can smell if they are bad.

Yellow equals FAT! IMHO, it is nasty!

all channels I have ever cleaned have a yellow strip down the top of back.

i have noticed yellow in a lot of channels i have cleaned too, even some of the 12-14". i cant taste it, but im not very particular when it comes to fish.

Channels (CC) do have the yellow areas up top on the back slabs of meat. The side of the Channels have a pinkish, rubbery feel compared to a Blue (BC). If they are larger Channels, there might be a layer of fat on the outside of certain portions, such as the belly straps. On a larger Blue & Yellow (YC), you may find that easily. You have to shave that outer layer of fat off. If not, it will have a bitter & sometimes yucky taste.

It can also be your water that you use to bag them in. Perhaps certain minerals or chemicals. Get you a gallon or two (jugs) of either distilled water & try that to see if it changes the tint. Also, you need enough water in the bag to prevent freezer burn. And you need to "burp" the freezer bags, in other words, get all the air out & seal as you let a little overflow. That prevents frosting which will cause freezer burn down the road.

Hope that helps, but try the distilled water bit, in case it is your water. Do you have well water? It could be the tannens in it reacting to the fish.

If you clean a mixture of channels and blues you can always pick out the channels small or large by the yellowish color

+ 1000

Xanthophylls. They are basically a yellow pigment found in corn, wheat and other grains along with other plants(maybe algae) that is not easily synthesized in channel catfish. (Same as a lot of chum, too). Blues and yellows eat less plant based organic material than channels so that is why they won't have the yellowish flesh. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Tru Dat Tom...tru dat!