MAGIC SCHOOL BUS SALMON SKIN

The average lifespan of a chum in Alaska is just about five years. They are easily distinguished by the purple streaks, the large teeth, and the elongated snouts they develop during their spawning runs. It is often used for canned salmon that is sent overseas.

MAGIC SCHOOL BUS SALMON SKIN

Once the spawning run begins, however, their bellies turn darker, their tops turn olive green, and they develop purple blotchy streaks or marks on the end (hence the name).Ĭhum has a very mild taste compared to the other species we’ve looked at so far, as its skin has less oil. The biggest difference is the white tip on their tails, which has a narrower base and is often forked. In the ocean, their colors are very close to the sockeye and the two can be difficult to tell apart.

The average chum is about 23 inches long and weighs from 11-20 pounds. They are also called dog salmon because of the long teeth that the males develop during their spawning runs. The term “chum” comes from “ tzum“, the Chinook name for the fish that means “spotted” or “marked”. Our fourth type is salmon is the chum, also known as the dog salmon. The best place to find them is towards the opening of a stream, as the casting of your line will tend to create a nice, clear spot to attract them. Like several other species, they have a preference for clearer waters. Their average lifespan is about two to four years. It is often served smoked,Ĭohos are distinguishable from other salmon because of their white gums with black tongues, as well as having fewer black spots on their tails than kings. The filets are also bright red, in contrast to the orange of a king. Silvers taste pretty much the same as king salmon, just not as strongly. The average length of coho is 28 inches and the average weight is 7-11 pounds, although they can sometimes get up to 35.

They are also called silver salmon because that’s the main color of their flesh before their spawning runs, at which point their stomaches turn red and they developed hooked noses. The name “Coho” comes from the language of the Halkomelem Native Americans in Washington State, although the exact meaning has sadly been lost to time. Silver salmon, also known as coho, are the second-largest type and are more common than kings, which can be pretty rare. They prefer more temperate waters, so it’s best to avoid trying to catch them during a changing tide. This event is held in the summer, which is the best time to catch kings. The winning weight is generally in the high 20s or low 30s, although there have been exceptions. Kings have an average lifespan of three to seven years, which is longer than some of the other types we’re about to discuss.Įvery year, Juneau hosts the Golden North Salmon Derby, in which residents compete to catch the heaviest king or coho salmon (which is up next on our list). Because of their size, kings are often cooked as steaks.Ĭhinook can easily be identified by the black spots on their tails and backs. Whites have a little more oil than reds, which makes the buttery taste more pronounced.

However, more recently, the tides have changed and the majority now prefers the white. In times past, white chinook were unpopular up here, with most people preferring the red. Some chinook salmon, however, do not have the gene that causes them to properly metabolize that chemical, so they remain white. Their diet is mostly zooplankton, small crustaceans, and shrimp, all of which contain a chemical called astaxanthin that gives them that reddish hue. The same principle is the reason why kings are usually reddish-pink or orange-red. Their normal colorization is generally a shade of red, either close to pink or orange, but they can also be white.ĭo you remember Arnold from The Magic School Bus or that patient from season one of House who turned orange because they both ate too many carrots? The record is 146.1 pounds, which was caught in British Columbia back in the 70s. The average weight for a king is between 20 pounds, while the average length is 30-40 inches. They are also called “kings” because they are the largest species of salmon. “Chinook” comes from the name of the Chinookan Peoples, a group of Native Americans who mostly live in Washington State. It is the official state fish for the states of Alaska and Oregon. The largest and (in my opinion) best-tasting salmon is the Chinook, also called the king salmon.

Magic school bus salmon