The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Chum Salmon Oncorhynchus keta
Chum Salmon Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 24–28 in, 8–15 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to 3.6 ft and 35 lb |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years, sometimes 6 |
| Range | Found throughout Alaska and scarce north of Kotzebue Sound, with the run continuing south along the coast through Puget Sound to about Yaquina Bay, Oregon. |
| Habitat | Salt water beaches, bays and estuaries, then the lower reaches and spring-fed side channels of coastal streams — most spawn close to tidewater. |
| Diet | Copepods, squid, mollusks and small fish at sea; near the beach they take herring and crustaceans, and fresh fish crush chartreuse and pink flies, spoons and jigs. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Chum Salmon
- No distinct spots on back or tail
- Silver at sea; spawners show purple/green vertical 'calico' bars
- Whitish tips on anal and pelvic fins
- Narrow caudal peduncle (thin tail base)
- Large, often white-rimmed pupil/eye
Tell it apart: A spotless back and tail combined with a thin caudal peduncle and white-tipped anal/pelvic fins separate chum from spotted pinks/coho and from spotless sockeye (use gill-raker count to split chum from sockeye).
Easily confused with: Sockeye Salmon, Pink Salmon, Coho / Silver Salmon
Side by side: Chum Salmon vs Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon vs Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon vs Sockeye Salmon
How to Catch Chum Salmon
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- Runs July-August; cast chartreuse and green spoons, spinners and yarn flies in tidewater and lower rivers, where hard-fighting chum take swung hardware.GearBright casting spoonsInline spinnersYarn flies
When & Where Chum Salmon Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska — Southcentral & Southeast Inshore |
Chum Salmon Regulations
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.