Catching Salmon in the Pacific

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 Sockeye, from Alaska, is the most valuable of all salmon. It grows to 24 inches in length and weighs between six and nine pounds. It makes up 25 to 30 percent of Alaska's commercial fishing. During spawning season, the males turn a beautiful red, and therefore are often called "red" salmon.

The Coho salmon is the third most valuable and important salmon in the fishing industry. The Coho is also known as "silvers" because of their silvery sheen. These salmon are popular in seafood markets and are often sold whole to consumers. They are great for canning and for smoking. The Coho averages about 29 inches and weights approximately 9 pounds.

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.

There are many fishing charters along the northern Pacific coast that are very popular among sport fishermen. If you are an avid fisherman you may want to think about chartering a boat to take you to the finest salmon fishing places along the coast. Many of these charters also offer whale watching tours which is a great way for you to combine your fishing vacation with a bit of sightseeing. Take your time finding the right charter for you as there are many different packages that you can choose from, including one day excursions to week long trips. You will want to join a charter that doesn't have too many people booked with it, since the smaller the group is the better your salmon fishing trip will be.

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.