Pink Salmon
Caught odd years from June to August
Quick Facts:
- Scientific name: Oncorhynchus gorbuscha.
- Pink salmon are the most abundant of the seven species of salmon in BC waters.
- Pinks have a short, two-year lifespan.
- Fishermen know these salmon as "humpbacks" or "humpies" due to the humped back developed in males as they return to spawn.
Description of pink salmon in marine phase
Pink salmon have tiny scales and a tail heavily marked with large oval spots. Unlike the other salmon species, the tail of a pink has no silver in it. In the sea, pinks have silver bodies with spotted backs. They are the smallest of the Pacific salmon, usually weighing about 2.2 kg, but occasionally reaching 5.5 kg. They are more abundant in northern waters in even-numbered years and in southern waters in odd-numbered years. Pinks live only two years.
Each pink salmon you keep must be at least 30 cm long.
Description of pink salmon in freshwater phase
Mature males are yellowish gray on the sides of their body, blotched with brown, and dark along back. Females are olive green on the sides of their body with dusky stripes. Both males and females appear dirty white below the lateral line, and their tails have large oval spots.
The mouth in a pink salmon is white, but the gums are black, as they are in a chinook. It does not have "teeth" on its tongue.
The pink salmon has a V-shaped tail coverd with large oval spots. Its scales are very small.