The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
King Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
King Salmon Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 24–36 in, 10–25 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to 58 in and 126 lb |
| Lifespan | 3–7 years, up to about 9 |
| Range | The Pacific coast from Monterey Bay north through Oregon, Washington and Alaska; California ocean fish stack up off the Golden Gate, Half Moon Bay and Fort Bragg. |
| Habitat | Open ocean off the beach and over shelf structure, usually the top 40–150 ft where bait and cold upwelled water gather. |
| Diet | Anchovies, herring, sardines, squid and krill — troll or mooch a whole anchovy, or run a flasher and hoochie. |
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 King Salmon
- Black gum line at the base of the teeth ("blackmouth"), inside of mouth dark
- Black spots on the back AND on BOTH lobes of the tail
- Silver body with greenish-blue back, small scales, silver retained on the tail
- Robust, deep body with a broad, firm tail that holds its shape when gripped
- Anal fin shorter-based than a trout's; large sharp teeth
Tell it apart: Spots across BOTH tail lobes plus a solid black gum line (the "blackmouth") confirm King/Chinook over Coho, which shares a dark mouth but has WHITE gums and spots only on the upper tail lobe. (An adipose fin alone proves nothing, every salmonid has one.)
Side by side: King Salmon vs Brown Trout, King Salmon vs Coho Salmon, King Salmon vs Steelhead
How to Catch King Salmon
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- Peaks May through July offshore — troll anchovies or hoochies behind a flasher off a downrigger, or mooch a whole herring on the drift.GearTrolling flashersSalmon hoochie squidsMooching leader rig
- Peaks August through October on the fall river run — drift cured roe, back-bounce or back-troll plugs and spinners through holding water.GearSalmon drift roe rigsKwikfish-style plugsSpinner blade lures
- Best June through August — troll a whole or plug-cut herring behind a flasher off the downrigger, working the bait close to bottom.GearTrolling flashersHerring teaser rigsDownrigger trolling combo
- Peaks June-September in cold offshore water; troll meat rigs, spoons and flashers deep on downriggers, following thermoclines as summer heat pushes fish down.GearMagnum trolling spoonsFlasher meat rigsTrolling rod combo
- Tight summer run peaking June-July; troll cut-plug herring and flashers on downriggers in salt, or drift bobber-and-yarn and spoons through holding river holes.GearCut-plug herring rigTrolling flashersSalmon mooching rod
When & Where King Salmon Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern California Nearshore | ||||||||||||
| Pacific Northwest Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Pacific Northwest Nearshore | ||||||||||||
| Great Lakes Offshore | ||||||||||||
| Alaska — Southcentral & Southeast Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Alaska — Southcentral & Southeast Nearshore | ||||||||||||
| Alaska — Southcentral & Southeast Offshore |
King Salmon Regulations
CaliforniaCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Marine RegionNOAA Fisheries (West Coast Region)PFMCWashingtonWashington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW)OregonOregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW)MinnesotaMinnesota Department of Natural Resources (Minnesota DNR)WisconsinWisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)MichiganMichigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)IllinoisIllinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fisheries (iFish Illinois)IndianaIndiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Fish & WildlifeOhioOhio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of WildlifePennsylvaniaPennsylvania Fish and Boat CommissionNew York (Great Lakes / inland)New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)AlaskaAlaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Division of Sport FishNOAA Fisheries, Alaska Regional OfficeNPFMC
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.