Outdoors

For most beginner fishermen or women one of the hardest parts about salmon fishing is having the ability to obviously identify which particular kind of salmon that they have caught. Since fishing laws are based on species it is highly critical that you can tell each from the other to prevent being in violation of the license and most likely facing fines or even more serious outcomes. Studying salmon fishing and assorted species is not too hard, and the general descriptions provided below should be all that is required to spot the salmon species.

The following tips about salmon fishing species identification will apply only to mature salmon and may not apply to juveniles and smelts.

Chinook – it’s important to bear in mind when speaking about salmon fishing that many species go by different names. The Chinook is also called the King and blackmouth. It is the biggest of the Pacific salmon, and is simply identified by the distinct black coloration to the lower gums. They’re olive or brown in coloration on the back with darker black coloration on the sides. They have many tiny, dark spots on the back.

Coho – also known as Silver salmon, are smaller than the Chinook or King salmon. They’ve a bluish green color to the skin on the head and back. Depending on the time of year the sides of the Coho may be wine coloured or even a very brilliant red. The cover of the gills will be terribly reddish throughout the year.

Chum – one of the less common salmon it’s important to understand about salmon fishing this species to achieve success. They will generally not move far inland and will stay close to salt water. Chum is the second largest of the Pacific salmon species and are easily distinguished by their red to purplish blue color and horizontal bars. They also have a very distinctive and pronounced set of teeth.

Sockeye – this salmon is terribly red in color and may occasionally be mistaken for the Coho thanks to the coloration. Sockeye spend up to two years in a fresh water lake before moving out the sea, and are unique in this aspect. They have any distinct spots and the female is less brilliantly colored than the male. Male Sockeyes have a conspicuous hump on their back just out front of the dorsal fin.

Kokanee – this is the truly land locked salmon, living its complete live cycle in a fresh water lake, never venturing to the salt water. In physical description they are almost identical the Sockeye, being red in color and males having the dorsal hump.

When studying salmon fishing and fish identification it is a great idea to bring a salmon identification book and remember to practice conservation and return fish to the water whenever limits are reached.

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