Salmon Identification

In addition to distinguishing between hatchery and wild salmon, it is also important to be able to identify salmon by species. For example, sport salmon seasons may require careful release of specific salmon species.

The three salmon species most likely to be encountered by saltwater anglers in Washington are: chinook, coho and pink salmon. The following pictures and narrative will help guide you in their identification.

Chinook Salmon (blackmouth or king):
Teeth emerge from a black gumline on lower jaw; circular black spots on the tail.

Coho Salmon (silver): Teeth emerge from a white gumline on lower jaw; spots are usually missing on the tail, but may be lightly spotted on the upper portion of tail.

Pink Salmon (humpie):
Pink salmon return to Washington waters primarily in odd-numbered years (1999 for example). They have large oval spots on the tail, and their scales are tiny compared to other salmon species. They are also the smallest-sized Pacific salmon, averaging three-to-five pounds.

 
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