Species profile
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
At a glance
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) is a bony-fish species regulated in 21 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (British Columbia); the most generous is 250 (Alaska).
Across 10 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 13.8 in (≈ 1 ft 2 in).
Confirmed by 4,901 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- Also called 'silver salmon,' coho are prized for their acrobatic leaps during their spawning run.
- Coho spend 1–2 years in freshwater, then roughly 18 months in the ocean before returning.
- Spawning males turn vivid crimson-red while females develop reddish hues along their sides.
- Coho typically weigh 8–12 lbs, but trophy fish can exceed 30 lbs.
- Juvenile coho linger in estuaries longer than other Pacific salmon, feeding on insects and small fish.
Where Coho Salmon are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Coho Salmon
Protected status
- Coho salmon.
- Coho salmon — 3 threatened ESUs.
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Background
The coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch; Karuk: achvuun) is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family, one of the several species of Pacific salmon. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". The scientific species name is based on the Russian common name kizhuch (кижуч).
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Coho Salmon article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.