Species profile
Pink Salmon
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
At a glance
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 18 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Utah); the most generous is 250 (Alaska).
Across 8 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 12.4 in.
Confirmed by 2,354 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, Alaska, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Pink salmon have a strict 2-year life cycle — every adult dies at exactly age 2.
- Spawning males develop a pronounced dorsal hump, earning the nickname 'humpback salmon.'
- Averaging 3–5 lbs, pink salmon are the smallest of the five Pacific salmon species.
- They are the most abundant Pacific salmon, with runs numbering in the tens of millions.
- Odd- and even-year runs are genetically distinct populations that almost never interbreed.
Where Pink Salmon are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Pink Salmon
Background
Pink salmon or humpback salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is the smallest and most abundant of the Pacific salmon. The scientific species name is based on the Russian common name for this species gorbúša (горбуша), which literally means humpie.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Pink 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.