Salmon

North American Salmon Species: The Basics¹

Before we jump into the details, it’s good to go over the basics. There are six types of Salmon in North America. Five come from the Pacific coast and are called Pacific Salmon. These are Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, Pink, and Chum Salmon. The other one traditionally lives in the Atlantic and is simply called Atlantic Salmon.

Atlantic Salmon are actually more closely related to Brown Trout than other Salmon species. Even so, all Salmon have a few things in common. They’re strong predators that like cold water. They normally live in the sea, but they move into freshwater to spawn. When they do, they transform, changing color, even shape, to give them an upper hand.

Shape-shifting predators at large in our rivers and seas? Sounds like something out of a horror movie! Some Salmon species certainly look scary enough, but there’s nothing to fear except losing your favorite lure. Let’s meet the cast and find out what makes each one special.

The Types of Salmon in North America: Summing Up

So, there are six types of Salmon in North America: five Pacific Salmon, one Atlantic Salmon. We won’t go back into the details of every fish, but let’s go over the signature things that set each species apart.

• Chinook Salmon is the biggest fish in the family. It has a black mouth with black gums. When it spawns, it turns olive-maroon with obvious spots all over its tail.
• Coho Salmon fights the hardest pound for pound. It has a black mouth with white gums. When it spawns, it grows a “kype” and turns maroon with a dark back.
• Sockeye Salmon is the tastiest of the bunch. It has a white mouth with white gums. When it spawns, it turns bright red with a dull-green head and tail.
• Pink Salmon only shows up every other year. It has a white mouth with black gums. When it spawns, it turns grey on top and white below. Males grow a humpback.
• Chum Salmon tastes the worst, but has the best roe. It has a white mouth with white gums. When it spawns, it turns green with purple stripes. Males grow big teeth.
• Atlantic Salmon is big and mean, but rare in the wild. It has x or y-shaped spots. When it spawns, it looks more like a Brown Trout than other Salmon species.

Every species of Salmon is special. Some fight hard, others taste great. Some aren’t good for either of those things, but they make up for it with outlandish looks. Hopefully, you’ll have an easier time identifying which fish you’re looking at next time you catch one. If nothing else, you can appreciate how awesome this entire family of fish really is.