Chinook salmon

The largest salmon in the Pacific is the Chinook, which may weigh more than 30 pounds and normally measures 36 inches in length. Adults can be identified by the black irregular markings on their dorsal and caudal fins as well as on both of their dorsal fin lobes. Chinook salmon also have a black pigment along their gum line, which is why they are sometimes called "blackmouth" fish.

The Chinook salmon is a powerful, deep-bodied fish that is coloured from blue green on the back to silvery on the sides and white on the belly when it is swimming in the ocean. Depending on the region and level of development, the colours of spawning Chinook salmon in fresh water range from red to deep grey. In general, males are more red in hue than females, who are usually grey.