Pacific Salmon Identification

As prepared by Steve Thiesfeld Pacific Salmon Recreational Salmon Fishery Manager of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Chinook (King) * Mouth is dark with a black gum line * Large, sharp teeth * Spots on both lobes of tail * Large spots on back
Coho (Silver) * Mouth is light with white gum line * Medium size, sharp teeth * Spots only on upper lobe of tail * Spots on back * Wide caudal peduncle
Pink (Humpy) * Mouth is white with black gum line * In marine areas, almost no teeth * Large oval spots on both lobes of tail * Large black spots on back * Pointed lower jaw * No silver on tail * Very small scales
Chum (Dog) * Mouth is white with a white gum line * Well developed teeth * No spots on tail or back * Calico markings (vertical bars) - faint on bright fish * Narrow caudal peduncle * White tip on anal fin
Sockeye (Red) * Mouth is white with a white gum line * Almost toothless * No spots on tail or back * Large bright gold glassy eye * Deep blue color on back

Chinook (King) Jaw - The Chinook has a dark mouth and black gums at the base of the teeth. Immature chinook are known as "Blackmouth" Tail - Both the upper and lower lobes of the tail are covered with spots and silver is predominant
Coho (Silver) Jaw - The mouth is white and the gum line is almost white. The teeth are sharp and strong. Tail - The Coho tail has just a few scattered spots, usually on the upper lobe, with silver streaks. It has a wide caudal peduncle.
Pink (Humpy) Jaw - The mouth of a Pink is white, but the gums are black, as they are with the Chinook. It does not have "teeth" on it's tongue. Tail - The Pink salmon's tail is covered with large oval spots/ It does not have silver on the tail. The scales are very small compared to other salmon of the same size.
Chum (Dog) Jaw - The mouth is white and the gum line is white. The lips are fleshy with well developed teeth on both jaws, but there are no teeth on the base of the tongue. Tail - The tail has no spots, but does have silver streaks covering about half of the tail. The caudal peduncle is narrow.
Sockeye (Red) Jaw - The mouth is white and the gum line is white. The lips are fleshy. The teeth are small and well developed in both jaws. There are no teeth on the base of the tongue. Tail - There are no spots on the tail.