
Also known as:
Silver salmon
Coho
Sea trout
Common Group Name:
Salmonids
Family Name:
Salmonidae
Genus Name:
Oncorhynchus
Species Name:
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Dispatch Method:
The eating qualities of species like coho salmon can be greatly improved by killing them humanely by iki jime or a firm knock to the head before placing them in an ice slurry after bleeding.
Fish Description:
- Coho salmon from the ocean are dark blue to black dorsally, silvery to white on the flanks and belly, and the gums inside the lower jaw are not black.
- On their return to fresh water on the spawning run, coho salmon generally change to bright green on the head and back and bright red on the sides.
Fish Distribution:
- Endemic to the drainages of the northern Pacific from the Anadyr River in Russia south to Hokkaido, Japan, and from Alaska southwards to Mexico.
- Adult fish can migrate large distances to return to their natal streams from the sea to spawn. Adults die a few days after spawning, while juveniles in freshwater usually migrate to the sea after 1-2 years.
Fish Size Common Length:
Commonly 60-75 cm (24-30 inches), maximum size around 108 cm (43 inches) and 15 kg (33 pounds).