Gaping in fish such as bluefish and hake may be a sign of processing before rigor mortis is complete.

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Gaping in fish, which refers to the separation of muscle flakes that can lead to a decrease in the quality of the fish flesh, can indeed be a sign that the fish was processed before rigor mortis was complete. Processing fish before rigor mortis has fully set in can lead to structural weaknesses in the muscle tissue, resulting in gaping.

Gaping in Fish Such as Bluefish and Hake May Be