Alaska Silver Salmon

The Alaska silver salmon or coho salmon, are found in coastal waters of Alaska all along the southeastern coast up to the Yukon River. Silver salmon are extremely adaptable and frequent nearly all accessible bodies of fresh water from large rivers to small tributaries.

Adults usually weigh 8 to 12 pounds and are 22 to 30 inches long, but some silvers weighing as much as 32 pounds have been landed. Adults in salt water or newly arrived in fresh water are bright silver with small black spots on the back and on the upper lobe of the caudal fin. They can be distinguished from chinook salmon by the lack of black spots on the lower lobe of the tail and gray gums while the Chinook/kings have small black spots on both caudal lobes and they have black gums. Spawning adults of both sexes have dark backs and heads with light maroon to reddish sides. The males develop a prominent hooked snout with large teeth called a kype. The anal fin has a long leading edge usually tipped with white, and all fins are frequently tinted with orange.

Coho salmon enter spawning streams from July to November, usually during periods of high runoff. In some streams with barrier falls, adults arrive in July when the water is low and the falls are passable. In large rivers, adults must arrive early, as they need several weeks or months to reach headwater spawning grounds. Silver runs are also determined by the water temperature at spawning grounds. When temperatures are low, the eggs will develop slowly, so the spawning runs in these waters will begin sooner. When temperatures are warmer, the eggs will develop faster so spawning in these rivers will begin later. Silver spawning generally occurs at night. The female deposits 2,400 to 4,500 eggs.

The juveniles will spend one to three winters in streams and may spend up to five winters in lakes before migrating to the sea as smolt. Time at sea varies. Some males mature and return after only 6 months at sea at a length of about 12 inches, while most fish stay 18 months before returning as full size adults.

The Alaska silver salmon is a premier sport fish and is taken in fresh and salt water from around the end of July to usually late September. Trolling with herring or fishing with flies or lures along shore is the most popular method of ocean angling, while salmon eggs, flies, spoons, or spinners are used by anglers in the freshwater streams. A favorite tactic is to wrap a small egg sac in a fine mesh and attach it to a hook and drop it to the bottom of the stream or river and wait for the strike.

Silvers are spectacular fighters and the most acrobatic of the Alaska salmon and provide a most thrilling fishing experience. Silvers stay fresh a long time in the rivers and even if they begin to turn a pale shade of red, they are still good to eat.

Along with the sockeye, it is the preferred salmon for the traveling angler as it freezes well and can later be thawed and prepared a myriad of ways.

Nutritional Information: One ½ lb. fillet of Coho Salmon has 289 calories, 42.8 grams of protein, 11.7 grams of fat, 2.4 grams of saturated fat and 91 milligrams of sodium.
Note: Nutritional information provided by Ed's Kasilof Seafoods at http://www.kasilofseafoods.com.

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