The largest of all the pacific Salmon species, the mighty Chinook Salmon may attain a weight of over 100 pounds! Spawning in large rivers from California to Alaska the Chinook  average 18 to 24 pounds with up to 127 pounds recorded. Chinook have small black spots on the back, dorsal fin, and tail fin. The gums at the base of the teeth are gray. Fall run Chinook are robust and deep bodied, while spring Chinook are smaller and slimmer.They have a characteristic odor. Fall Chinook spawn soon after arriving at their spawning grounds -  usually in large rivers. The fry spend three to four months in fresh water. Spring Chinook migrate earlier, but delay spawning until fall, and they spawn in smaller tributaries. Their fry spend a year or more in fresh water. Their spawning age varies from two to seven years but most typically four. Chinook smolts will spend as little as a few weeks in fresh water to as long as one year! Coho (Silver)

Coho spawn in over half the coastal 1500 streams in British Columbia.  They migrate to sea after spending one to two years in freshwater, spending another 18 months to two  years at sea. Coho generally return as mature adults after two years, those returning earlier are referred to as "Jacks". Coho (or silver) salmon are powerfully built, and they can jump falls that most salmon cannot negotiate. They have small black spots on their backs and the upper lobe of the tail fin. The gums at the base of the teeth are white. Although sea run coho have silver sides, spawning males develop bright red sides and greenish backs. Spawning females are paler. The jaws of spawning males often become grotesquely hooked. Mature coho average 8-10 lbs. but it is not unusual to find fish exceeding 20 lbs. in Sooke waters. Chum (Dog)

Chum Salmon reproduce along the North American coast from Oregon to the Mackenzie river. Chum spawn in over 880 moderate sized coastal streams in British Columbia. Most Chum spend two to four summers at sea before returning to their streams of origin to spawn. Chum, also known as "dog" salmon from the large canine teeth of spawning males, are the second largest Pacific salmon, weighing up to 40 pounds. Spawning males develop reddish vertical bars on their flanks; females have a reddish lateral band. Although Chum are fast swimmers, they are not good jumpers, and they do not migrate far inland to spawn. Chum fry migrate to the sea soon after they emerge from the gravel. They may spend up to 7 years at sea, but 4 years is typical. Pink (Humpys)

The most abundant of the five species of Pacific Salmon in British Columbia waters, Pink salmon rarely travel far upriver to spawn; they are typically found in shorter coastal streams. When the fry emerge from the gravel, they already have the silvery color of smolts, and they migrate directly to sea. Pinks spend a fixed 18 months at sea; thus, all returning pink salmon were born in the same year, and different year classes do not interbreed. Pinks average 2 to 5 pounds. Sea run pinks are easily distinguished by the large oval spots on their backs and tail fins. Spawning males develop a large hump on their backs, earning the species its other name, "humpback." Some biologists think the males' conspicuous hump diverts the attention of predators away from the females. Pinks are found throughout the North Pacific and the Bering Sea. Southern spawning Pinks cycle on odd years, while northern Pinks cycle on even years. Salmon Life Cycle Return to Enhancement