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Chinook Salmon

What is chinook salmon?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Scientific name Oncorhynchus tshawytscha[2]
Family Salmonidae[4]
Common name king salmon[1]
Average mature size about 3 feet and 30 pounds[4]
Life cycle anadromous: hatches in freshwater, migrates to ocean, returns to freshwater to spawn[4]

Chinook salmon is the largest species of Pacific salmon, known scientifically as Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. It is an anadromous fish that hatches in freshwater, migrates to the ocean, and returns to freshwater to spawn. It is also called king salmon and is highly valued commercially and for sport.

Context

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is the largest species of Pacific salmon, reaching an average mature size of about 3 feet and 30 pounds [4]. It is an anadromous fish, hatching in freshwater, migrating to the ocean to feed and grow, and returning to freshwater to spawn [4]. Also known as king salmon, it is a commercially important and prized food and sport fish [3]. Identification features include black spots on both lobes of the tail fin and black gums in the lower jaw [4].

Documented claims

  • Chinook salmon is the largest of the Pacific salmon species. [2]
  • It is an anadromous fish, meaning it migrates from freshwater to the ocean and back to freshwater to spawn. [4]
  • Chinook salmon are piscivorous, meaning they eat other fish. [6]

Related

  • Coho SalmonCoho salmon is another Pacific salmon species readers may want to compare.
  • Sockeye SalmonSockeye salmon is another Pacific salmon species readers may want to compare.

Questions and answers

Is Chinook salmon good to eat?

Yes, Chinook salmon is highly prized as a food fish due to its rich flavor and high oil content [3].

Is Chinook salmon better than sockeye salmon?

Taste is subjective, but Chinook salmon is often considered one of the best-tasting salmon due to its high fat content, while sockeye is leaner and has a stronger flavor [3].

What is the most expensive salmon?

Chinook salmon, especially the king salmon variety, is often among the most expensive due to its size, flavor, and limited availability [3].

Is there Chinook salmon in Ontario?

Chinook salmon have been introduced to the Great Lakes, including Lake Ontario, where they are now a popular sport fish [5].

Sources

  1. Chinook Salmon — fisheries.noaa.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Chinook Salmon | US EPA — epa.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Chinook salmon | Spawning, Migration, Conservation | Britannica — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. What is a Chinook Salmon? - Idaho Fish and Game — idfg.idaho.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Information about Pacific salmon | Fisheries and Oceans Canada — pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  6. chinook salmon — dictionary.cambridge.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Things