fish · The Trophy Room
King Salmon
The biggest and most prized of the Pacific salmon — the Chinook, the king. Broad-shouldered, deep-bodied, and capable of pushing past thirty pounds, a king on the line in a San Juan rip is the fish the whole season is built around. Rich, fatty, and orange-fleshed, it's the best eating in the sea.
Identifying
- black gums at the base of the teeth — the classic "the king has a black mouth" tell
- spots on both lobes of the tail, plus the back
- deep, thick body; large individuals are unmistakable
- silver at sea, darkening and coloring up as they near spawning
Facts
- resident "blackmouth" kings winter over in the Salish Sea; ocean fish stage through in summer
- the fat content that makes them the richest-eating salmon is also what powers a run of hundreds of river miles
- king seasons in the San Juans (Marine Area 7) open and close on short notice — always check WDFW before you launch
