Chinook salmon
How to tell a chinook salmon from the fish it's most often mistaken for, and what you can keep in each BC region.
How to confirm it's a chinook salmon
- Black gums at the base of the teeth
- Black spots on the back and both lobes of the tail
- Salmon fishing in fresh water follows Fisheries and Oceans Canada rules
Could it be something else?
Coho salmon
Coho have white gums and spots on the upper lobe of the tail only.Steelhead
Steelhead have white gums and a squarer tail.
Coho have white gums and spots on the upper lobe of the tail only.Steelhead
Steelhead have white gums and a squarer tail.
What you can keep
Salmon in BC's non-tidal waters are managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, not the provincial synopsis. Check the freshwater salmon regulations and DFO's in-season notices before keeping one.