Chum Salmon
Commonly referred to as “dog salmon” due to the appearance of mature males, chum salmon are found throughout the Pacific Rim, from Oregon to Alaska and as far afield as Japan and Korea.
In BC and the Yukon, chum spawn in more than 880 medium-sized streams and rivers. In short coastal streams, chum emerge from gravel spawning beds in the spring as fry and move directly to the sea — a migration accomplished in just a day or two. In larger river systems, the young remain in fresh water for up to several months before reaching the ocean. Most chum spend two or three summers at sea before returning to their home streams to spawn. By May or June of their final year, maturing chum can be found throughout the eastern and western Pacific, north of the California border.
An attractive fish, chum in tidal waters are metallic blue and silver, with occasional black speckling on the back. Spawning chum are readily recognized by the dark horizontal stripe running down their sides, the canine-like teeth of the large males, and the checkerboard or calico colouration. Chum salmon are the most widely distributed of all Pacific salmon.
Identification
- Mouth: White, tongue may be black; large teeth.
- Tail: No spots; silver streaks covering about half of tail; narrow tail base.
- Distinguishing features: No spots on back or tail; possible faint vertical bars on silver fish; white tip on anal fin.
- Age at maturity: 3 to 5 years.
- Freshwater markings: Vertical bands on sides; may be reddish-purple in males.
- Flesh colour: Pink or white.
- Size: 3–20 lbs (1.4–9 kg).
