White globs/pearls in Wild Chinook meat?

I was going to post this in "Recipes" but thought I should go here since everyone would see a ceviche recipe I'll probably end up stealing. Anywho...

Caught a pair of Chinook this morning on the Klick and after filleting one of them, I noticed that there were these little white globs (about 4mm-5mm diameter) connected to some of the body tissue and some not (near the dorsal fin). After taking a few of them out of the meat, I noticed that there was an off-color white milky liquid in each one.

Went online to see what people had to say about these and they said it was anything from fat deposits, cysts, or parasites (that were harmless after being cooked). My questions to all of you out there are these:

What are they really?
Do I mention it to my family?
Do I send some of the packages to my in-laws?
Is this a common occurence?

Thanks for your help!

True

Worms that got into the meat, surrounded by tissue and encased/dissolved. Not an issue if you cook it well. Best not to smoke that one, unless you smoke really hot and fast.  Better yet, give it to the neighbor who takes your parking spot all the time.

To the in-laws it goes... Thanks for your help!

True

Happens pretty often. See it most in late season fish. Cut them out were you see them and don't worry about it.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

I'd keep them in but it'll probably cause me to get an "Asshat" award. Best not to chance it. Thanks, Fungunnin'!

True

Not really like worms at all, worms you just pick and flick, these you have to remove a decent chunk of surrounding flesh to ensure a edible cooked product.  I get lots of coastal fall salmon with them in.  Some call it "tapioca disease".  No matter how much you cook it they will liquify into a milky puss and the surrounding flesh will be very mushy when cooked and be totally unappetizing not to mention look plain gross.  Cut them out, or if there are a bunch I just toss the fish. Pisses me off to crab bait a 30lb fall nook, but when you get a fillet with hundreds of them there is nothing you can do. I have heard that it originated from fish farms in BC. 

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/species/disease/pdfs/fishdiseases/henneguya.pdf

I don't think this is from farmed salmon the disease they get is called Kudoa and it turns all the meat to goo. Really nasty but completely different.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

There are around 20 of them near (and in) the oil glands. I can cut them out, I'm sure. I'd hate to waste all of this meat but I COULD turn them all into crab bait if necessary. WWFD?

True

Cut them out and don't say shit to the family. If you need to cut the fillet into portions do so. It will help to cut out any of the deep ones with out making the fillet a funky shape.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

I came across a dozen of these in a chinook I was cutting up to smoke... I think/hope I got them all... so, gross... I actually gagged a few time and threw up in my mouth when I hit one and it squirted... ugh!   I will not say a word to my family about it... ever... I don't know how excited I will be to eat this batch of smoked salmon either.

Is this a chinook-only thing or can it happen in other salmon/fish too?

Mmmmmm Flavor nodule!  Almost as good as the opalescent white Tule fillets. 

-Spot-

Is this a chinook-only thing or can it happen in other salmon/fish too?

Seen it in coho too.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2