Salmon Info - Alaskan Salmon Species simple facts
King Salmon (or Chinook):
The King salmon is arguably the finest salmon in the world. It is the largest of all species weighing in at an average of 20 lbs. per fish. Prized for its orange - red flesh, succulent flavor, high natural oil content and firm texture, King salmon grace the tables of the finest restaurants across the United States.
Sockeye Salmon (or Red):
Fiery red flesh, robust flavor and firm texture are hallmarks of this premier Alaskan salmon. Sockeye salmon average approximately 6 lbs. and are typically cold - smoked, used in nova - style lox products. Sockeye salmon is a long time favorite in domestic, European and Asian markets.
Coho Salmon (or Silver):
Coho salmon is the second largest Alaskan species, with an approximate average weight of 12 lbs. Regarded as a premium salmon species, Coho salmon boast a firm texture with an orange - red flesh tone. The natural oil content is less than either King or Sockeye salmon.
Pink Salmon (or Humpy):
Pink salmon are the smallest and most abundant of all Alaskan salmon. These salmon have a very firm, lean meat and are widely used in canned preparations.
Chinook Salmon
DID YOU KNOW? Chinook salmon may spend between 1 to 8 years in the ocean before returning to their natal streams to spawn, though the average is 3 to 4 years.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, from the Greek words onkos (hook), rynchos (nose) Male and tshawytscha (the common name for the species in Siberia and Alaska).
COMMON NAMES: King salmon, tyee salmon, Columbia River salmon, black salmon, chub salmon, hook bill salmon, winter salmon and blackmouth.
DESCRIPTION: The chinook salmon is blue-green on the back and top of the head with silvery sides and white bellies; black spots on the upper half of its body with gray/black mouth coloration. Up to 58 inches in length and weigh up to 129 pounds; although chinook salmon is generally up to 36 inches in length and weigh up to 30 pounds.
LIFE CYCLE: Spawning in streams that are larger and deeper than other salmon utilize, chinook salmon spawn from late summer to late fall, depending on the run. Fry and smolts usually stay in freshwater from 1 to 18 months before travelling downstream to estuaries, where they remain up to 189 days. Chinook salmon spend 1 to 8 years at sea before returning to natal streams to spawn.
RANGE: Chinook salmon range from Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, to Santa Barbara, California. Spawning and rearing chinook are found in most of the rivers in this region, with significant runs in the Columbia River, Rogue River, and Puget Sound.
HABITAT AND ECOLOGY: Freshwater streams and estuaries provide important habitat for chinook salmon. They feed on terrestrial and aquatic insects, amphipods, and other crustaceans while young, and primarily on other fish when older. Eggs are laid in deeper water with larger gravel, and need cool water and good water flow (to supply oxygen) to survive. Mortality of chinook salmon in the early life stages is usually high due to natural predation and human induced changes in habitat, such as siltation, high water temperatures, low oxygen conditions, loss of stream cover and reductions in river flow. These impacts are primarily caused by poor forestry practices, dams, and water diversions.Estuaries and their associated wetlands provide vital nursery areas for the chinook prior to its departure to the open ocean. Wetlands not only help buffer the estuary from silt and pollutants, but also provide important feeding and hiding areas. The draining and filling of wetlands and the pollution of the estuary from industrial discharges and run-off, negatively impact chinook salmon.
ECONOMIC VALUE: Chinook salmon is highly valued by commercial fishermen, despite their scarcity relative to other Pacific salmon along most of the Pacific coast. Chinook salmon is also an important subsistence fish and a valuable recreational resource.
Chinook / Spring Salmon
Jun 14, 2003
The Chinook is the largest of the 5 Pacific Salmon, reaching weights of over 70 pounds. The largest BC caught salmon was in the low 80 pound range, with the world record sport caught fishing being a 92 pound Kenai River (Alaska) giant.
The Fraser Valley receives two distinct runs of Springs. The first to enter the Fraser is a run of red fleshed Spring Salmon that arrive in May. These fish are headed to the Vedder and Chehalis Rivers as well as other rivers farther upstream including the Thompson. The fall brings a second run of Springs, this time a white fleshed variety known appropriately as White Springs, or simply as Whites. These fish are mainly headed for the Harrison or Vedder rivers. The Chinook Salmon, in contrast to the Coho, has black gums and a square tail. When on its redds, the Spring goes either a dark grey or black, with some fish having a red tinge.
Mature adults return to medium and larger streams to spawn. Spawn mainly from July to November in Fraser River, August to September in south coast, October on Vancouver Island and in September in north coast. Adults die soon after spawning. Eggs are laid in redds constructed in gravel reaches of river. Alevins remain in gravel until yolk sac is absorbed.
Fry emerge from gravel from March to May. Fry follow one of three life history patterns: "immediate" fry migrate immediately to estuary or ocean, "ocean-type" fry rear for 60-120 days (i.e. 90 day fry) in freshwater before migrating seaward as smolts, and "stream-type" fry rear for 1-2 years in freshwater before migrating seaward as smolts the following spring. Fry rear in shallow water in estuaries, tide flats or eelgrass beds from April to August and September.
As they grow they move to more pelagic habitats. In fall they leave inshore, and undergo 2-5 year ocean feeding migration. Some stocks remain inshore. Small numbers of males or "jacks" mature early and return to spawn at 2-3 years of age. Mature Chinook return to natal stream and may hold off mouth for several days or weeks before migrating upstream to spawn. Maximum size is about 147 cm or 52 kg.
More articles can be found in these categories : Appetizers - Gift Box - Gourmet Food - Smoked Salmon
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