The Fish
Species of Salmon
Chinook (aka: Spring, King, Tyee)The largest of the salmon, this fighter really tries to make a run while you're reeling, rarely leaping. The Chinook has a lightly spotted blue-green back, a dark mouth with black gums at the base of the teeth and a V-shaped silvery tail, the top and bottom generally covered with spots.
Coho (aka: Silver, Northern)
Puts up a wild, fast and erratic fight, frequently leaping out of the water. The Coho is bright silver in colour, has a white mouth with white gums at the base of the teeth and has a silver tail with spots usually on the top and with a wide base.
Chum (aka: Dog, Keta)
Known for its long runs and aggressive tactics. This is the toughest fighting ocean salmon. Chums have a large mouth with well-developed teeth in both jaws, a white tip on the anal fin, a lack of spots on the back, and a slightly forked tail with silver streaks and a narrow base.
Pink Salmon (aka: Humpie)
Smallest of the salmon, but a good fight when taken on lighter tackle, leaps occasionally and has short runs along the surface. The Pink Salmon has tiny scales on a silver body, a white mouth with black gums, and a V-shaped tail, which isn't silver-coloured like other salmon, covered with large oval spots on top and bottom.
Sockeye (aka: Red)
Silver-blue in colour, with prominent glassy eyes. Sockeye have small black speckles on their back with distinct large scales and a moderately forked tail with no black spots. (Note: Currently, retention of Sockeye salmon is not permitted within the Central Coast region.)
Other Species
Halibut (aka: Flattie, Hally, Flounder)Will feel like a dead weight when reeling up from the ocean floor, with occasional determined deep runs, and will fight erratically once they've broken the surface. Halibut have a flat, diamond-shaped body that is mottled brown topside, and white on the under body, their eyes are on top of their head, they have a large symmetrical mouth and small scales. Any halibut over 70 pounds is a female carrying millions of eggs.
Lingcod (aka: Bucketmouth)
Can offer a fight similar to salmon when initially hooked. Lingcods have a large mouth with very sharp canine-like teeth and small smooth scales. Their colour varies with environmental conditions but is generally dark mottling with light golden spotting over brown, grey, green shades and a grey-white belly. This fish is very durable and has a very high survival rate when released.
