Trout & Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tschawytscha
BothSalmonidaeVulnerable
About
Chinook salmon are the largest of the Pacific salmon species, known for their powerful swimming abilities and long migrations. They have a streamlined body, small black spots on their back and dorsal fins, and a dark gum line in their lower jaw.
- Average size
- 24-36 inches, 10-50 lbs
- Colors
- Silver sides, dark olive-brown back, black spots. Spawning adults can turn reddish or brownish.
- Diet
- Juveniles eat insects, zooplankton, and small crustaceans. Adults primarily feed on other fish, squid, and crustaceans.
- Region
- Pacific Northwest, Alaska, California