KING SALMON FISHING - Chesapeake Fishing Charters, Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

(from Saltwater Fishing 2002 by the Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia)

Chinook are the largest of the salmon, with a lightly spotted blue-green back. They are highly prized by trophy fishers. The average weight range is 1.5 to 30 kg. (3 to 65 lbs.) with some reaching weights of 90 lbs. Fall Chinook salmon spawn soon after arriving at their spawning grounds, usually large rivers. Their fry spend three to four months in freshwater. Spring Chinook migrate earlier, but delay spawning until fall, and spawn in smaller tributaries. Their fry spend a year or more in fresh water.

Pinks are the smallest of the salmon, with tiny scales over their silver bodies. Average weights are 1.5 to 3 kg. (3 to 7 lbs.) but will occasionally reach 5 kg (11 lbs.). They are a spirited fighter and popular with fly fishers. When the fry emerge from the gravel, the already have the silvery colour of smolts, and migrate directly to the sea. Pinks spend a fixed 18 months at sea; so all returning pink salmon were born in the same year, and different classes do not interbreed.

Coho are bright silver in colour and are notorious for their wild, fast and erratic fight. Average weights are 1.3 to 14 kg. ( 2 to 30 lbs.) Most Coho spend 18 months at sea, staying in coastal waters, and return to their home stream as three-year-olds. The spend more than a year living in streams.

Chum are similar in appearance to sockeye, but longer. They are noted for long, nearly unstoppable runs and bulldogging tactics. Average weight 5.5 to 11 kg. ( 12 to 24 lbs.) Chum fry migrate to the sea soon after they emerge from the gravel. They spend up to seven years at sea, but four years is typical.

Slimmest of the salmon, silver-blue in colour with prominent glassy eyes. They are a strong determined fighter on light tackle. 2.2 to 3 kg (5 to 7 lbs.) on average, but can reach 6.3 kg (14 lbs.). Sockeye fry, after emerging from the gravel, migrate to freshwater lakes, where they spend one to two years before heading out to sea.

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