Togiak River Lodge

WebSite: www.TogiakLodge.com
Call us :
(907) 493-5464 Jun-Sept
(503) 784-7919 Oct-May
Tips for Identifying Alaska King Salmon
King salmon are highly sought after trophy fish. They're commonly called Chinook salmon and are officially the state fish of Alaska.
Anglers, from beginners to professionals, usually have their hearts set on landing one of these huge fish. They are known for their power and elusiveness.
The most recognizable feature of Alaska king salmon is their color. King salmon have blue-green backs and heads, white bellies, and silvery sides. Their tail and top may also have a few black spots on them. Unlike other types of fish, these fish have black gums. If you look in the fish's mouth, then you should be able to tell quite easily if it is a King or not. Their tails will also provide clues since they are known for their forked, wide tails.
When King salmon migrate to rivers in order to spawn, they undergo physical changes. Their color changes from silvery to dark red or black. They will also develop a hooked jaw as well as a ridgeback shape. Females don't have the color changes nor do they develop a ridgeback shape like their male counterparts.
Alaska king salmon are the largest species of Pacific salmon which is the main reason they are called kings. Adults typically measure about 36 inches long and up to 60 inches. Adults weigh anywhere up to 50 pounds. However, one of the largest king salmon on record weighed well over 100 pounds.
You can find King salmon all along the west coast anywhere from Alaska down to California. However, the Togiak River in Alaska is popular among anglers for its spectacular populations of Kings