Salmon Fishing in the Pacific

Although it's already one of the most popular fishing sports, salmon fishing is still growing. Salmon come in a number of varieties, and each is a bit different from the others. Since there are so many types, fishermen usually have a favorite one or two they like to pursue. Chinook is the granddaddy of Pacific salmon, growing to as long as 40 inches and weighing up to 100 pounds. They only figure in at about 1% of the yearly salmon harvest.

In the state of Alaska the "red" or Sockeye is the most valuable. Sockeye average six to nine pounds and can grow to be 24 inches long. They make up roughly 25 to 30 percent of the commercial catch each year. Males turn a bright red when they come home to spawn, hence the nickname "red".

Coho's are the next (third) most valued fish. These "silvers" as they are called, because of their bright silver color, are popular in the marketplace and often sold whole. The Coho runs to about 29 inches and weighs on an average of nine pounds. The favored ways of processing them is smoking or canning.

Another common salmon is the Chum salmon, however these types of salmon are less valuable to fishermen because their meat is pale and yellow in comparison to the red salmon, making them less desirable to the consumer. Chum salmon can reach a length of 30 inches and weigh about 8 pounds.

Pink salmon is the lowest on the list of Pacific salmon, although it is the most abundant. Pinks are small, at 22 inches in length and only weigh about four pounds. Consumers generally buy pink salmon in cans rather than fresh.

There are many fishing charters along the northern Pacific coast that are very popular among sport fishermen. If you are an avid fisherman you may want to think about chartering a boat to take you to the finest salmon fishing places along the coast. Many of these charters also offer whale watching tours which is a great way for you to combine your fishing vacation with a bit of sightseeing. Take your time finding the right charter for you as there are many different packages that you can choose from, including one day excursions to week long trips. You will want to join a charter that doesn’t have too many people booked with it, since the smaller the group is the better your salmon fishing trip will be.

Make the right choice and you will enjoy good fishing and come home with some delectable meals. Even if you don't catch anything, you're sure to have a great time in the salty sea air with fellow fishermen.

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Flipper' Thomas is the chief editor for The Fat Salmon, the web's premier resource for information about Salmon. For more articles on Salmon visit: www.fatsalmon.com/articles
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