Overview
Known as 'Dog Salmon', the largest salmon after Chinook. Powerful fighter, often underrated.
Identification
Changing colorationProminent jaw in malesWell-defined lateral stripesWell-developed forked tailLarge mouth with sharp teethSturdy pectoral finsLight bellyDorsal fin set back
- Body
- The body is streamlined with a torpedo shape typical of salmon.
- Colouration
- Silvery in the ocean, turns olive green with black markings in rivers during spawning.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Males develop a prominent jaw and more vivid stripes during spawning.
- Growth
- rapid, thanks to their rich diet and growth conditions in the ocean
Taxonomy
- Family
- Salmonidae
- Order
- Salmoniformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Oncorhynchus tshawytschaOncorhynchus kisutchOncorhynchus nerkaOncorhynchus gorbuschaOncorhynchus masou
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, open_sea, estuaries, rivers
- Preferred bottom
- gravel, sand
- Geographic distribution
- Found in the North Pacific, mainly along the northern coasts of Asia and North America, from Japan to Alaska.
- Micro-habitat
- Prefers river areas with flowing water and gravel beds for spawning.
Prefers well-oxygenated waters and gravelly bottoms for spawning.
Presence by sea area
Na Pacifico NwPeak
Na Costa Ovest NordPeak
As Giappone NordPeak
As OkhotskPeak
Arctic PacificoPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- crustaceans, small fish, capelin
- Secondary prey
- amphipods, zooplankton, krill
- Occasional prey
- polychaetes, jellyfish
- Feeding behaviour
- Primarily an opportunistic predator in open water, feeds by spotting and capturing nearby prey.
- Natural predators
- bears, seals, large predatory fish, seabirds
The variety of prey allows keta salmon to adapt to different environments.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- large_schools
- Aggressiveness
- medium
- Migration
- Seasonal anadromous migrations, ascending rivers to spawn.
- Seasonal behaviour
- During the spawning season, they move into freshwater and their feeding habits change.
- Juveniles
- Young remain in freshwater for several months before migrating to the sea.
- Adults
- Typically live in open ocean and chase prey in coastal waters.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- October, November, December
- Spawning depth
- above 20 meters in rivers
- Eggs
- Eggs are large, spherical, benthic, and adhere to the river gravel.
- Larval stage
- Larvae remain hidden among gravel until the fry stage.
- Sexual maturity
- 3-5 years
When to catch Chum Salmon
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
DayDawn, Dusk
Night—
This species shows peak fishing activity in spring, summer and autumn, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Fishing activity decreases in winter, when conditions are less favourable.
Ideal conditions
Water temperature
10°COptimal zone: 14-24°C27°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
river mouthsupper river stretchescoastal watersestuaries
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
spin fishingfly fishingtrollingcasting
Other applicable
SpinningTrolling OceanicoDriftingSpinning MedioTraina Costiera
Recommended baits
artificial luresfliesearthwormschum
Baits by pressure
Low
Cedar plugCucchiaino casting (gold/silver)Spinner / RotanteBuzz bombCucchiaino ondulanteHoochie / Octopus rigMetal jig leggero (20-40g)
Medium
Aringa interaTrancio/Filetto di aringaSardina vivaTrancio di sardinaGambero vivo
High
Roe bag (sacchetto uova)
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Energetic fight with lots of jumps and runs.
- Handling
- Use wet gloves to handle the fish and minimize fin damage.
- Release
- Release into cool, flowing water, avoiding excessive strain.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The IGFA all-tackle record for the keta salmon is a 19.97 kg specimen caught in the Edie River, British Columbia, in 1995. In Japan, there are tales of keta salmon reaching 15 kg in Hokkaido waters.
- In the kitchen
- Used for making sushi and sashimi; also popular when smoked.
- Cultural notes
- Seen as a symbol of fertility and abundance in indigenous Pacific cultures.
- Historical notes
- Traditionally caught by Native American populations using trap and net techniques.
