First Impressions: Wild Alaskan Company

First Impressions is a series that (re)introduces and reviews new brands to My Subscription Addiction, drawing from readers' requests for an insider's first look. Interested in seeing more reviews from this brand, or have another box in mind that you'd like to see reviewed? Let us know in the comments.

Wild Alaskan Company delivers wild-caught fish each month through its supply-driven seafood membership. Subscribers can choose from three curated seafood boxes plus optional add-ons. All orders ship free and are packed in eco-friendly, insulated boxes. Enjoy wild salmon and other varieties of seafood from responsible fisheries that retain great nutrition, texture and taste.

This review is of the 12-Pack Wild Combo Box.

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes).

What's Inside The Box

While I've tried out several meal delivery services since joining MSA, this was my first experience with a seafood subscription box. My family and I typically only eat wild-caught seafood, but our local grocery store's offerings have dwindled in recent years. So, we were beyond ready to fill our freezer with a variety of sustainably-sourced seafood.

For our first delivery from Wild Alaskan Company, we went with their 12-pack Wild Combo Box. We received the following items: 4 x Sockeye Salmon, 2 x Coho Salmon, 2 x Pacific Cod, 2 x Pacific Halibut, and 2 x Pacific Rockfish.

Here's what each item looked like fresh out of the box plus what it tasted like after prepping!

Sockeye Salmon - $21.49 per 2-pack (6 oz. skin-on fillets, individually packaged)

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Just look at this ruby red gem! Its distinctive coloring is thanks to this sockeye salmon's diet being full of carotenoid-rich zooplankton. (In contrast, farmed Atlantic salmon is typically given synthetic astaxanthin.)

I expected nothing short of a rich, savory mouthful of omegas, and this sockeye more than delivered. I seasoned it with olive oil and a mix of citrus spices, then placed it on a cast iron grill to bake in oven at 400°F for roughly 15 minutes.

I served a smaller portion over organic greens, and the remainder alongisde organic jasmine rice and sautéed vegetables. While my husband and daughter preferred the second option, my son and I gobbled down the first.

Next time I'll try a gentler approach and bake it at 375°F for 10-12 minutes so that it better retains moisture and tenderness. Nonetheless, this salmon was still rich and easy to savor! (Scroll down to to see the final product side-by-side to the coho salmon.)

Coho Salmon - $21.99 per 2-pack (6 oz. skin-on fillets, individually packaged)

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Up next was coho salmon, a milder-tasting and lighter-colored variety. I'll admit that when I first saw the light pink coloring of the fish I wasn't sure if I'd like it as much as the sockeye salmon. After all, this was the coloring I was most used to seeing at the grocery store.

However, I read up on the differences between sockeye salmon and coho salmon and was immediately relieved. Turns out coho salmon switches from zooplankton to small fish as they mature, thus giving them a diet that's lower in carotenoids but higher in omega-3 fatty acids. (I would have never guessed upon first inspection!)

I cooked this salmon alongside the sockeye salmon in the same manner. The results? It wasn't as gamey as the sockeye and paired better with a variety of sides. In fact, this one paired better over organic greens since it didn't taste as heavy.

I think next time I'll try steaming this salmon due its delicate nature, or I'll just bake it at a lower temperature for a shorter amount of time.

Sockeye Salmon vs. Coho Salmon (Before and After)

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I thought this side-by-side comparison on the cast-iron grill was pretty neat. You can really see the bright red coloring of the sockeye shine through compared to the coho. Though I overcooked the salmon, you can still see the ruby red coloring of the sockeye poke through compared to the pale orangey-pink of the coho.

Pacific Cod - $19.99 per 2-pack (6 oz. skinless fillets, individually packaged)

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Can't go wrong with Pacific cod. This lean white fish is known for its flaky texture and hint of sweetness so I knew the kids would enjoy this. I told them it was "chicken of the sea" (or something like that) and they seemed eager to try it out.

I baked it in a cast iron pan at 400°F for 12 minutes, which was just enough to cook it through without it becoming too tough. It was soft and buttery, practically melting in your mouth. Defintiely a repeat item for us!

Pacific Halibut - $29.99 per 2-pack (6 oz. skinless fillets, individually packaged)

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Another mild and lean option, this Pacific halibut looked like it would be quite juicy and tender. It was a bit meatier than the cod and also had a higher amount of protein per serving (30g vs 23g).

I baked it the same exact way as the cod (400°F for 12 minutes), but it ended up needing additional time due to being slighly thicker. I believe it baked for a total of 17 minutes, though that's a rough estimate.

The halibut was delectable as well, and very filling!

Pacific Cod vs. Pacific Halibut

Once again, I overcooked these a bit (I'm still a homemaker in the making) but you can see the flakiness of the cod vs. the meatiness of halibut. You could cut through the cod with the touch of your fork, whereas the halibut require a bit more pressure to divide.

Pacific Rockfish - $14.49 per 2-pack (6 oz. skinless fillets, individually packaged)

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Up last was the rockfish. This was our first time trying it, but unfortunately it was a bit bold for our tastes. Don't get me wrong, I love how affordable it is along with its tenderness, but it was too fishy compared to the other white fish we tried.

To be fair, I should've included this in a recipe like Air Fryer Rockfish Tacos, Rockfish Milanese With Golden Panko Crust, or Blackened Rockfish Sandwich. Next time I'll avoid serving it on its own, or at least pair it something that will drown out the boldness a bit.

The Verdict

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Wild Alaskan Company was a hit in our house! We enjoyed the richness of both types of salmon as well as the soft sweetness of the cod and halibut. While the rockfish was our least favorite, I think that mostly fell on my shoulders as the cook. Overall, we had a fun time trying out the fish side-by-side as part of a seafood feast. As a family, we decided that the coho salmon and cod were our favorites from this box.