First Copper River salmon arrives in Seattle

The first shipment of prized Copper River salmon has arrived in Seattle straight from Alaska.

As is tradition, an Alaska Airlines  Boeing "salmon 30 salmon" landed at Sea-Tac Airport . A red carpet was rolled as two pilots proudly presented a King salmon to waiting chefs for a cookoff.

The flight is carrying 20,000 pounds of the fish, with a total of 80,000 pounds coming in Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in West Seattle, foodies can't wait to get their hands on the famed sockeye salmon from the Copper River in Southeast Alaska.

"It's the best salmon in the world," Kurt Bethman said.

Jon Daniels, the owner of Seattle Fish Co. West Seattle, expects to have it by Wednesday.

"We've had about a dozen phone calls this morning, preorders over the last month so people really do look forward to getting it," Daniels said.

He said he's been on the phone with producers.

"It was a lot of fish. That's a really good sign. They're a little bit smaller so we'll see if we can get those bigger fish in about a week or two," Daniels added.

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They may be smaller, just as it was last year but Alaska Fish and Game is predicting the 11th-largest run since 1980. This year's price will likely be the same as last year.

Daniels expects it will start at $30 per pound and then come down to $25 per pound.

The wild fish is known for its deep reddish color and it's loaded with Omega 3 oils.

"The Copper River salmon with the high oil content we're always looking forward it," Bill Raleigh said.

"The flavor, it's really rich red and the juice that flows out of it, it's amazing," Bethman added.

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But some people people aren't buying into the buzz.

"I think it's completely overrated," Marlene Mann said. "And whats the hype on it? I think they hype it up so people think it's something it isn't."

If you have sticker shock, don't worry. The price goes down as the season progresses.

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Cox Media Group