Want to know what the Official Alaska Fish is? This article highlights the king salmon, along with some amazing fish records of the 'big' ones caught in the state of Alaska that were measured or weighed.
Official Alaska Fish
The Official Alaska State Fish is the giant king salmon Onchorhynchus tshawytscha, which is the adult Chinook salmon.
Above illustration is of the Chinook salmon. Image courtesy of Bob Hines, Fish & Wildlife Service.
The king salmon was designated as Alaska's state fish in 1962 following its reaching official statehood in 1959. The king salmon is a very popular fish that is caught year round. The king salmon has irregular spotting that is visible on both the dorsal and back fins, which continues to its tail. When the mouth is opened, the black pigment that is characteristic to this species is noticeable along the gum lines.
Image above shows the king salmon's characteristic gum line color.
King salmon is an important commercially caught fish to the state of Alaska and in the Pacific Northwest. It can grow to be a very big fish: the commercial record on file according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is 126 pounds in 1949 that was found in a fish trap. The trophy sportfishing king salmon was 97 pounds in 1986.
Other Names for King Salmon
King salmon is also known by other names. Chinook salmon and spring salmon are popular names as are tyee, tule, ‘blackmouth’ (because of its black gum line, see photo above) and quinnat.
Life Span & Chinook History
Chinook or king salmon are an anadromous fish where they spend most of their lives in ocean water but spawn and thus are born in fresh water. After spawning, this species of fish dies. The newly hatched fish still with yolk sacs attached are called ‘alevins’. Baby fish are called ‘fry’. Young fish still living in fresh water eat plankton and as they get older and move to the ocean and salt waters, king salmon are supported by a diet of insects, squid, crustaceans and fish.
Fishery Management & Culinary Applications
King or Chinook salmon is an important fish to the commercial fishery and are caught with gillnets or trolling, depending on the operation. The eating quality is excellent, and is a highly sought after fish for sport fisherman. Because of its popularity and its importance to the culinary industry and Alaskan commercial fishery operations, Chinook or King salmon is managed to prevent over harvesting from happing.
Alaska State Fishing Records
Here are some amazing Alaska state fishing trophy records, and when they were caught.
- King Salmon - 1985 at Kenai River - 97 lbs. 4 oz.
- Chum Salmon - 1985 at Caamano Point - 32 lbs.
- Coho Salmon - 1976 at Icy Straight - 26 lbs.
- Cutthroat Trout - 1977 at Wilson Lake - 8 lbs. 6 oz.
- Halibut - 1996 at Unalaska Bay - 459 lbs.
- Lingcod - 2002 at Monty Island - 81 lbs. 6 oz.
- Rainbow/Steelhead Trout - 1970 at Bell Island - 42 lbs. 3 oz.
- Rockfish - 1986 at Pah River - 53 lbs.
Source:
http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Trophy/index.cfm/FA/main.record
For further reading of the King salmon, here is a selection of books to try:
