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Washington › Fishing › Salmon Identification

Salmon Identification

Ocean Phase

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon in its ocean phase, with a silver body and dark back, an iconic Pacific salmon species prized by anglers.
The Chinook salmon, also known as king salmon, is the largest Pacific salmon species. In its ocean phase, it has a bright silver body with a dark back, making it a favorite catch for anglers and an essential part of Pacific Northwest ecosystems.

Large black spots on back, dorsal fin, and both the upper and lower lobes of the tail. Black mouth with a black gum line and large prominent teeth. Silver pigment on the tail.

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon in its ocean phase, with a silver body and dark back, a popular Pacific salmon species for sport fishing.
The Coho salmon, often called silver salmon, is a prized Pacific salmon species. In its ocean phase, it has a sleek silver body and dark back, making it a popular target for anglers and an important fish in Pacific Northwest waters.

Black spots on back with spots only on the upper portion of the tail. White mouth with a white gum line, a dark tongue, and medium-sized teeth. Average size scales. Silver pigment on the tail.

Chum Salmon

Chum salmon in its ocean phase, showing a silver body with faint markings, an important Pacific salmon species for fisheries and ecosystems.
The Chum salmon, also known as dog salmon, is a vital Pacific salmon species. In its ocean phase, it has a bright silver body with subtle markings. Chum play an important role in both commercial fishing and the natural food chain of the Pacific Northwest.

No prominent spots on back or tail (small speckles may be present). White mouth with a white gum line, a dark tongue, and well developed teeth. Calico markings (vertical bars), but faint on bright fish. Silver pigment on the tail.

Pink Salmon

Pink salmon in its ocean phase, with a silvery body and spotted back, the smallest and most abundant Pacific salmon species.
The Pink salmon, often called "humpies," are the smallest and most abundant of the Pacific salmon. In their ocean phase, they have a bright silver body with a spotted back, making them a key species for both sport fishing and the marine food web.

Generally large black spots on back and heavy oval shaped black blotches on the upper and lower lobes of the tail. White mouth with a black gum line and tongue. Very small scales. No silver pigment on the tail. Few if any teeth present.

Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye salmon in its ocean phase, with a sleek silver body and blue-tinted back, prized for sport fishing and high-quality meat.
Sockeye salmon, also known as "reds," are valued for their rich flavor and vibrant spawning colors. In their ocean phase, they have a silvery body with a bluish back, making them a favorite target for anglers and an essential species in the Pacific ecosystem.

No prominent spots on back or tail (small speckles may be present). White mouth with a white gum line, a dark tongue, and almost toothless. Average size scales. Prominent gold-colored eyes. No silver pigment on the tail. Small teeth.

Spawning Phase

Chinook Salmon

Male Chinook salmon in freshwater spawning phase, with darker brown coloring and hooked jaw, an important Pacific salmon species.
A male Chinook salmon during spawning season, showing its darker body and hooked jaw. Known as “king salmon,” Chinook are the largest Pacific salmon and a prized catch for anglers and an essential species for river ecosystems.

Chinook salmon do not display the conspicuous morphological changes of pink, chum and sockeye salmon during the spawning stage. Typically Chinook turn from silvery bright ocean coloration to a darker bronze color. Large spots are found on the back and both lobes of the tail. Mouth is black with a black to grey gum line.

Coho Salmon

Male Coho salmon in freshwater spawning phase with bright red body and hooked jaw, an iconic Pacific salmon species.
A male Coho salmon during spawning season, featuring its deep red body and hooked jaw. Coho, also known as silver salmon, are highly prized by anglers and play a vital role in Pacific Northwest rivers and ecosystems.

Mature coho salmon display a greenish-black head with a red to maroon colored body. Spots are found on the back and only upper lobe of the tail. The mouth is black with a white gum line. Typically male coho display brighter coloration and have a more pronounced elongated hooked snout.

Chum Salmon

Male Chum salmon in freshwater spawning phase with dark vertical stripes and hooked jaw, a key Pacific salmon species.
A male Chum salmon during spawning season, showing its bold vertical striping and hooked jaw. Chum salmon, also called dog salmon, are known for their distinctive markings and importance to Pacific Northwest fisheries and ecosystems.

Chum salmon display characteristic olive-green vertical markings on the sides of the body as they approach spawning. There are no spots on the back or tail. Male chum salmon develop a more elongated snout with large canine-like teeth and also have reddish-purple vertical markings in addition to the olive-green markings.

Pink Salmon

Male Pink salmon in spawning phase with pronounced humpback and hooked jaw, a key Pacific Northwest salmon species.
A male Pink salmon during spawning season, showing its distinct humpback and hooked jaw. Pink salmon, often called humpies, are the smallest Pacific salmon but return in large numbers, making them vital to Washington’s fisheries and ecosystems.

The majority of pink salmon return on odd-numbered years. Pink salmon have large oblong spots on the back and both lobes of the tail. Pink salmon, like most other salmon transform from silvery bright ocean coloration to a more dull and darker color. Males develop a pronounced hump as they approach spawning.

Sockeye Salmon

Male Sockeye salmon in spawning colors with bright red body and green head, a key Pacific Northwest salmon species.
A male Sockeye salmon in spawning phase, recognized by its vivid red body and green head. Sockeye are prized for sportfishing and play a vital role in Washington’s river ecosystems and fisheries.

Sockeye turn brick red to scarlet red along their body with a greenish head. Female coloration is often more dull colored. There are no distinct spots on the back or tail. Sockeye can be found spawning in both lakes, streams, and rivers, while other Pacific salmon spawn in streams and rivers.

Learn more about Washington’s fish and wildlife by visiting the WDFW species and habitats page.

Atlantic Salmon

Side-by-side illustration of a male Atlantic salmon with a brown, spotted body and a female Atlantic salmon with a silvery-blue body.
Male and female Atlantic salmon shown side by side. The male displays a brown, spotted body and hooked jaw, while the female has a sleeker, silvery-blue body. Both are important species in Atlantic fisheries and aquaculture.

Atlantic salmon have large black spots on the gill covers and back, and rarely any spots on the tail fin. Their scales are large, there is no red stripe along the lateral line, and they have 8-10 anal fin rays. Atlantic salmon may be taken from marine waters during any open salmon season, and from anadromous (not landlocked) freshwater during any open salmon or trout season. Anglers may not, however, continue to fish for Atlantic salmon after a daily limit of another species of salmon has been retained. In landlocked lakes, Atlantic salmon may be taken as part of the trout daily limit. Seasons and size limits in place for trout apply to Atlantic salmon in landlocked lakes. Opportunities to harvest Atlantic salmon beyond those listed in the pamphlet will be announced to the news media. Please report sightings to (360) 902-2700.

Chinook, Coho, and Pink Salmon Identification

Comparison chart showing Chinook, Coho, and Pink salmon with close-up images of jaws and tails. Chinook have dark mouths with black gums and spotted tails, Coho have white gums and a few tail spots, and Pink salmon have white mouths with black gums and large oval tail spots.
Identification guide to Chinook, Coho, and Pink salmon. Chinook salmon have dark mouths, black gums, and heavily spotted tails. Coho salmon show white gums with only a few scattered tail spots. Pink salmon have white mouths with black gums and large oval spots on their tails, making them easy to distinguish from other Pacific salmon species.

Wild and Hatchery Identification

In order to provide salmon and steelhead fishing opportunities, WDFW and the Tribes have marked salmon and steelhead by clipping the adipose fin (a small fatty fin directly behind the dorsal fin). In areas designated "release wild <insert fish name>", fin-clipped salmon and steelhead are the only fish that may be retained. The picture to the right shows a wild salmon and a fin-clipped or hatchery salmon. Please be careful in releasing wild fish– they are your fishing future! For tips on the best way to release fish, please see Fish Handling Rules. In Marine Areas 5-13, it is illegal to bring a wild salmon or a species of salmon aboard a vessel if it is unlawful to retain those salmon. "Aboard a vessel" is defined as inside the gunwale. In Marine Area 2-2, it is unlawful to totally remove salmon from the water if it is illegal to retain those fish, except anglers fishing from boats 30' or longer are exempt.

Learn more about hatchery programs and mass marking by visiting the WDFW mass marking and hatchery management page.

Side-by-side comparison of hatchery salmon and wild salmon tails. The hatchery salmon has a clipped adipose fin, leaving a scar, while the wild salmon shows an intact adipose fin.
How to tell hatchery vs. wild salmon: hatchery salmon have their adipose fin clipped, leaving a healed scar, while wild salmon retain an intact adipose fin. This key identification feature helps anglers and fisheries managers distinguish between the two.
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