Pacific Salmon Fishing

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Although it's already one of the most popular fishing sports, salmon fishing is still growing. Salmon come in a number of varieties, and each is a bit different from the others. Since there are so many types, fishermen usually have a favorite one or two they like to pursue. Chinook is the granddaddy of Pacific salmon, growing to as long as 40 inches and weighing up to 100 pounds. They only figure in at about 1% of the yearly salmon harvest.

The most valuable salmon is from Alaska, the Sockeye salmon. This fish averages about six to nine pounds and can be as long as 24 inches. The Sockeye salmon accounts for approximately 25 to 30 percent of the commercial fishing trade in Alaska. This salmon is often called the "red" salmon because of the brilliant red color that the males turn during the spawning season.

A third variety of salmon is the Coho. It too is valuable to the fishing industry. They are silvery and shiny, thus often called "silver" salmon. Customers at seafood counters often take a whole fish home to barbecue. Canning and smoking are other great ways to prepare them and keep in your pantry. They generally weigh in at around 9 pounds and grow up to 29 inches long.

Chum salmon aren't as good to eat as the other varieties. Consumers tend to avoid buying them when they see the pale yellow meat. Therefore they aren't considered that valuable to the fishing industry. Their average weight is 8 pounds and they can be as long as 30 inches.

The least valuable of Pacific salmon is the Pink salmon. This is also the smallest of the salmon, weighing 4 pounds and averaging about 22 inches long. Even though the Pink salmon is the least valuable of all the salmon it is found in the most abundance. Pink salmon are used mostly for canning and not for eating fresh over the coals.

Check out the vast numbers of charter fishing boats available on the northern Pacific coast. Sport fishermen love to make a one-day or even week-long trip on one of these boats, hoping to come home with their limits. If you decide to try one, you may also luck out and see some whales during your trip. Gather information before you book a charter, since there are many packages available. Remember that the smaller, the better, since it limits competition for those feisty fish.

Make the right choice and you will enjoy good fishing and come home with some delectable meals. Even if you don't catch anything, you're sure to have a great time in the salty sea air with fellow fishermen.

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Flipper' Thomas is the chief editor for The Fat Salmon, a fantastic resource for information about Salmon, For more articles on Salmon why not visit: www.fatsalmon.com/articles
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