Pacific salmon belong to the genus Oncorhynchus (from Greek, meaning “hooked snout”). While the five species of Pacific salmon all share a general outward resemblance, they vary in size, flesh colour, and flavour.

Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Lightly spotted on their blue-green back, chinook salmon live from five to seven years, and weigh up to 120 lb. (55 kg). Also known as springs or kings, they are the most prized game salmon for sport fishers. Chinook is the largest species, with richly flavoured, firm flesh ranging from ivory white to deep red in colour. see image

Chum (Oncorhynchus keta)
Resembling sockeye, chum (or keta) salmon have black specks over their silvery sides and faint grid-like bars. They live three to five years, and weigh up to 10 lb. (4.5 kg). Chum salmon offers a milder, more delicate flavour with a creamy pink to medium red flesh colour. see image

Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
Bright silver in colour, coho salmon live three years, weigh up to 15 lb. (6.8 kg), and are a popular game fish for sport fishers. Coho’s versatile full flavour is coupled with fine-textured, consistently red flesh. see image

Pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Living only two years, pinks are the smallest of the Pacific salmon, weighing up to 5 lb. (2.3 kg). They have heavily spotted backs over silver bodies. Pink salmon are the most plentiful of the five species. They have a delicate flavour and light flesh colour. see image

Sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka)
A blue-tinged silver in colour, sockeye salmon live four to five years, weigh up to 7 lb. (3.2 kg), and are the slimmest and most streamlined of the five species of Pacific salmon. It is the most sought-after salmon species due to its rich flavour and firm, deep red flesh. see image