Coho Salmon Identification is Critical in California’s Ocean Fisheries

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reminds sport anglers to be
vigilant about properly identifying their salmon before keeping them.
The ocean salmon fishing season in California is well under way and
proper identification is critical for the survival of a protected
species of salmon.

Chinook (or king) salmon is the primary species targeted in
California’s ocean waters (although a few pink salmon are caught
occasionally). However, the retention of coho (or silver) salmon is
prohibited in all California ocean fisheries, specifically to protect
central coast and southern Oregon-northern California coast coho stocks.
Both stocks are severely declining and listed under both the state and
federal Endangered Species Acts.

Coho salmon have existed in California coastal waters for thousands of
years. Today, however, their populations have declined to just a
fraction of their historical levels, endangered by a wide range of
factors. Coho salmon populations along the coast from the San Lorenzo
River in Santa Cruz County north to the Smith River in Del Norte County
have reached a critical state of decline. Spawner escapement numbers
are below those required for sustainable populations and constitute a
crisis for coho salmon survival on the California coast.

In most years, sport anglers begin catching coho salmon in the ocean
fishery around mid-May. Coho catches generally peak during June and
then gradually decline throughout the remainder of summer. Although some
of these fish may have originated from hatcheries in Oregon and
Washington, many are native California coho and any retention in
California ocean fisheries has been prohibited since 1995. California
ocean fisheries are managed to provide for the maximum access to
abundant Chinook stocks while still protecting depressed California coho
populations.

Sport fishing enthusiasts can significantly help California coho stocks
by taking the time to correctly identify each salmon caught before
removing it from the water (netting or dropping a coho salmon onto the
deck of a boat can cause both scale loss and trauma that will likely
reduce its chance of survival when released). Coho salmon should be
identified through examination of mouth and gums. The base of the bottom
teeth on a Chinook salmon are all black whereas coho salmon have a
narrow light gray band. A photo guide is viewable online at
http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=36125&inline=true.
Although not as often caught in ocean waters, steelhead cannot be
targeted or taken during the ocean salmon season. Steelhead show no
black color on lower jaw and tongue.

To help avoid coming in contact with coho salmon, anglers should rig
their lines to fish deeper as coho are more often found in the top 30
feet of water. Anglers should plan to fish nearer to shore for Chinook
salmon as coho salmon are typically found farther offshore. Using larger
lures that select for the larger Chinook salmon will also reduce coho
salmon catch. The daily bag limit remains two salmon of any species
except coho salmon. For complete ocean salmon regulations, please visit
the Ocean Salmon webpage at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/oceansalmon.asp or
call the Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429.

Sport anglers are also reminded that coho salmon may also be found in
coastal rivers and streams. Retention of coho salmon in any California
inland salmon fishery has been prohibited since 1998. Protecting coho
salmon in the ocean, as well as in streams and rivers, is an essential
step in recovering this important salmon species.

Top photo: King salmon