5 Wild Alaska Salmon Species Found in Abundance
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A staggering 80% of North America’s wild salmon harvest comes from Alaska, which shows how abundant the waters are.
Familiarizing yourself with the different salmon species is essential for deepening your knowledge and knowing which one to catch. But if you’ve never explored The Last Frontier, you likely haven’t had the opportunity to compare species.
Sounds like you? Luckily, we’re here to provide the answers. Here are five Alaska salmon species everyone should know about.
1. Pink Salmon
Before we jump in, know that you can remember the five species by looking at your hand. For pink salmon, look at your pinkie finger.
The most popular species is the Pacific salmon; known as “humpies”, thanks to the hump on its back. Unlike others on the list, pink salmon is light-colored and low-fat, which explains their popularity. Because of this, they are mostly canned and sent across the country.
Although it has the shortest salmon lifestyle, there is a huge abundance to fulfill our seafood needs.
2. Sockeye Salmon
Sockeye is your index finger and people imagine poking someone to remember it.
You can identify sockeye salmon because of its crimson filets, which it gets from feeding on zooplankton. It’s also the reason this species has a dense texture and bursting flavor. Sockeye is also the second most abundant salmon species in Alaska, making it an iconic catch.
3. King Salmon
Remembering king salmon, think of your middle finger.
Most species of salmon are considered freshwater fish before migrating to the sea. For instance, sockeye stays in freshwater for a year while pink salmon migrates quickly. In contrast, king salmon stays in the same breeding location for a year.
4. Coho/Silver Salmon
As you can imagine, silver is your ring finger.
Coho or silver salmon, makes up the fourth Alaskan species. Although they are known for their silver scales, you’ll notice their bellies are bright red, making them far more distinctive.
Unlike king salmon, coho is leaner, with a higher protein content. It has a milder taste and flakes on the tongue, especially compared to others on the list.
5. Chum/Keta Salmon
And to remember salmon, look at your thumb because it rhymes with chum. Got it?
The final Alaskan salmon species is chum salmon. Keta is smaller, often at around eight pounds, and has a lower fat content. It tastes like sockeye and wins over diners who aren’t great seafood lovers.
Chefs who love poaching fish should choose this variety. Simply poach or pan-sear for several minutes and dinner is ready.
If you want to dive into the world of salmon, check out the Kenai River Fishing Guide to book an Alaskan winter fishing trip.
The Top Alaska Salmon Species
Now that you’re an expert on the different Alaska salmon species, it’s time to get fishing.
To remember the different species, look down at your different fingers to recall their names. Then, you can find the right one for your next fishing trip.
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