Family Salmonidae - trouts & salmon
One of the most important fish families from California to Alaska. Commercial fishers, sport fishers and native Americans continue to fight for the right to harvest these fish. In many regions populations are threatened because of habitat degradation.
Cutthroat trout- Onchorhychus clarkii
Remarks: Coastal cutthroat rarely enter the bay; they are primarily a freshwater species. Some northcoast rivers do have anadromous stocks but the ocean phase is only a few months of their life.
Identification: Jaw extends past eye. Commonly has reddish markings on underside of lower jaw. Body and fins have black spots. Small teeth on rear of tongue. Coloration in ocean is silver above and white below. In freshwater back is greenish, sides lighter and white below. Small, about 0.8kg.
Range: Southeast Alaska to CaliforniaÍs Eel river.
Coho salmon- Onchorhynchus kisutch
Remarks: The coho salmon has supported a large commercial and sport fishery. In recent years northern California stocks of this species have been in decline. Placement onto the endangered list may be in the near future for CaliforniaÍs coho salmon.
Identification: Black spots on back and only on upper half of caudal fin. The gums at base of teeth are white. Ocean coloration is silver above and white below. Freshwater spawning colors are silver above, reddish sides and white below. Maximum size is to 14kg and 98cm but most in northern CaliforniaÍs waters average 2.5 to 5.4kg.
Range: Bering Sea to central California. Rarely enters freshwater south of Santa Cruz.
Rainbow trout- Onchorhynchus mykiss
Remarks: The ocean migrating rainbow trout are referred to as steelhead. Occasionally this species will enter bay tributaries; more common in the surrounding rivers. This is the only salmonid that still has strong fall and winter returning stocks to all of Humboldt countyÍs rivers.
Identification: Black spots on fins and upper body. Jaw extends to rear of eye. Fish entering rivers from the ocean are silver above and white below. Some may have a reddish horizontal stripe on their sides. Although maximum size is over 18kg, most entering local rivers average 4.5kg.
Range: Bering Sea to central California.
Chinook salmon- Onchorhynchus tshawytscha
Remarks: Chinook salmon grow the largest of the Pacific salmon. A highly valuable commercial species and prized by anglers. Adults spawn within some of the bayÍs tributaries. The first year of life is spent in an estuary followed by a four to five year ocean phase before returning as adults to spawn in their natal tributary.
Identification: Irregular spots cover the back and caudal fin. Gums are black in this species. Colors of ocean phase chinooks are silver above and white below. After a few weeks in freshwater their coloration darkens and may become almost black after spawning. Although chinook salmon have exceeded 46kg, most caught in California waters are less than 7kg.
Range: Bering Sea to southern California. Rarely enters freshwater south of central California.