Tips for Identifying Alaska King Salmon

Alaska king salmon are highly sought after trophy fish.  They are commonly called Chinook salmon and are officially the state fish of Alaska.  Both commercial and sport fisherman prefer to go after these fish not only because of their large size, but because they taste pretty good too.

Anglers from beginners to professionals usually have their hearts set of landing one of these huge fish.  They are known for their power and elusiveness, so catching one will not be an easy task.  In order to catch king salmon, you will need to learn how to identify them.  Here are a few tips.

The most recognizable feature of the king salmon is their color.  If you do not know their typical colors, then you will have a hard time distinguishing them from other fish.  King salmon have blue-green backs and heads, white bellies, and silvery sides.  Their tail and top may also have a few black spots on them.

Another recognizable feature of Alaska King Salmon is their lower jawline.  Unlike other types of fish, these have black gums.  If you have the chance to look in the fish's mouth, then you should be able to tell quite easily if it is a King or not.  Their tails will also provide you with clues since they are known for their forked, wide tails.

When King salmon migrate back to rivers in order to spawn, they will undergo certain physical changes.  Their color will noticeably change, as it will go from silvery to dark red or black.  They will also develop a hooked jaw as well as a ridgeback shape.

All of these changes do not occur in both sexes though.  Females do not have color changes nor do they develop a ridgeback shape like their male counterparts.

Alaska king salmon are the largest species of Pacific salmon which is the main reason they are called kings.  Adults typically measure about 36 inches long, but can possibly measure up to 60 inches.  As far as weight is concerned, adults usually weigh anywhere up to 50 pounds.  However, one of the largest on record weighed well over 100 pounds.

As you should already know, there are many different rivers in the state of Alaska.  Some of these rivers typically harbor much larger fish, with the Kenai River being one of the most popular destinations in the whole state.  However, you can find King salmon all along the west coast anywhere from Alaska down to California.