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Salmon Species Identification

from: Kyle Besser

For most novice fishermen or women one of the hardest parts about salmon fishing is being able to clearly identify which particular type of salmon that they have caught. Since salmon fishing regulations are based on species, it is extremely important that you can tell one species of salmon from the other to prevent being in violation of the license and salmon fishing regulations and potentially facing fines or even more severe outcomes.

Learning about salmon fishing and the various species of salmon is not too difficult, and the general descriptions provided below should be all that is needed to identify 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. It is also important to keep in mind when talking about salmon fishing that many species of salmon go by different names.

Chinook Salmon

The Chinook salmon is also known as the King salmon and Blackmouth salmon. The Chinook salmon is the largest of the Pacific salmon and is easily identified by the distinct black coloration on the lower gums. Chinook salmon are olive or brown in coloration on the back with darker black coloration on the sides. Chinook salmon have many small dark spots on the back.

Coho Salmon

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

Chum Salmon

Chum salmon are one of the less common salmon it is important to know about. Chum salmon will typically not move far inland and will stay close to salt water. Chum salmon is the second largest of the Pacific salmon species and are easily distinguished by their red to purplish blue color and horizontal bars. Chum salmon also have a very distinctive and pronounced set of teeth.

Sockeye Salmon

The Sockeye salmon is very red in color and may occasionally be mistaken for the Coho salmon because of the coloration. Sockeye salmon spend up to two years in a fresh water lake before moving out the ocean and are unique in this aspect. Sockeye salmon have no distinct spots and the female is less brilliantly colored than the male. Male Sockeyes have a noticeable hump on their back just in front of the dorsal fin.

Kokanee Salmon

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

When learning about salmon fishing and fish identification, it is a good idea to take a salmon identification book along and remember to practice conservation and return fish to the water whenever limits are reached.