The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Pink Salmon Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 18–25 in, 3–5 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to about 30 in and 15 lb |
| Lifespan | 2 years |
| Range | North Pacific from Arctic Alaska south through Southeast Alaska and British Columbia to Puget Sound, with strays on down to central California. |
| Habitat | Coastal salt water and estuaries, then short gravel-bottomed streams — they rarely push more than 30–40 miles above tidewater. |
| Diet | At sea, plankton, krill, small squid and small baitfish; returning spawners quit feeding. |
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 Pink Salmon
- Large oval/oblong black blotches over the entire tail AND on the back
- Very small scales (smallest of any Pacific salmon)
- Bright silver at sea; smallest, most slender Pacific salmon
- Spawning males develop a pronounced humped back
Tell it apart: Big oval spots covering the WHOLE tail plus the tiniest scales of any salmon clinch a pink; coho spot only the upper lobe and chum has no real spots.
Easily confused with: Coho / Silver Salmon, Chum Salmon
Side by side: Pink Salmon vs Chum Salmon, Pink Salmon vs Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon vs Sockeye Salmon
How to Catch Pink Salmon
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- Concentrated July-August on its two-year run; cast small pink spoons, spinners and jigs at river mouths and tide rips where dense schools stage.GearPink casting spoonsSmall pink jigsLight salmon combo
When & Where Pink Salmon Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska — Southcentral & Southeast Inshore |
Pink 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.