Catching Salmon in the Pacific
By: Flipper Tomasio

Fishing sports are growing in popularity and one of the most prized fishes is the salmon. There are many varieties and each fisherman has his or her favorite. The granddaddy of Pacific salmon is the Chinook. It can weigh in at up to 100 pounds and grow to 40 inches in length. Chinook make up only about one percent of the annual salmon harvest.

In the state of Alaska the "red" or Sockeye is the most valuable. Sockeye average six to nine pounds and can grow to be 24 inches long. They make up roughly 25 to 30 percent of the commercial catch each year. Males turn a bright red when they come home to spawn, hence the nickname "red".

Coho's are the next (third) most valued fish. These "silvers" as they are called, because of their bright silver color, are popular in the marketplace and often sold whole. The Coho runs to about 29 inches and weighs on an average of nine pounds. The favored ways of processing them is smoking or canning.

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.

Choose carefully and you can enjoy some great fishing - and some great tasting fish!

Article Source: http://www.ArticleJoe.com

Flipper' Thomas is the chief editor for The Fat Salmon, the #1 source on the internet for information about Salmon. For more articles on Salmon visit: www.fatsalmon.com/articles
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