chinook versus coho

Same fish, different pose.  Still think nookie?

-Allen

I think this is a trick question.  Almost looks like a bright blueback/sockeye.

Wow...From the look of the cheek & lower jaw...it looks like a Coho in this picture.  Can we see the tail?  

Arrgghh ... you guys better just stick to gumline/tail.   

Sorry Sonny, no tail shot for you.

-Allen

I was going to say Coho but in the initial picture I thought it looked much larger that what I understood them to get.  It looks a little smaller in the second picture and confirms my hypotheses.

Michael

In the 1st photo I think I am seeing a purple reddish haze on the back . Is it the lighting that is doing that? In the second pic the green is standing out more. Especially on the head and forward part of the back. There are small kings too Dilbeck called jack slamon. I cant see the adfipose fin in either shot. Come on Allen. What gives buddy?

After catching a few, it becomes second nature, and you don't even need to look at the gumline or tail.  Quick test ... what is this?

-Allen

In the open ocean, I'd have to respectfully disagree, at least sometimes. I feel like I've seen my share and I always confirm with the color between the teeth (gumline) of the lower jaw. Yes, many fish are immediately obvious but there are a lot of variations in looks when the fish are chromers. I don't think it's great advice to be nonchalant about the ID just because you're an accomplished salmon angler. Coho, in CA at least, are in real trouble and we need to be responsible anglers by correctly IDing and handling fish.

How come everybody is afraid to guess? Pictures can be tough especially when the location and certain features are being hidden but I'm voting coho. I'd be hard pressed to accept this to be a Chinook without further evidence.

After catching a few, it becomes second nature, and you don't even need to look at the gumline or tail.  Quick test ... what is this?

-Allen

In the open ocean, I'd have to respectfully disagree, at least sometimes. I feel like I've seen my share and I always confirm with the color between the teeth (gumline) of the lower jaw.

Respectful disagreement noted.     I always know when I get a good shot at them in the water (live, not in pictures).  But like you, I still check the gumline.  I can't remember the last time I was wrong.

-Allen

In the 1st photo I think I am seeing a purple reddish haze on the back . Is it the lighting that is doing that? In the second pic the green is standing out more. Especially on the head and forward part of the back. There are small kings too Dilbeck called jack slamon. I cant see the adfipose fin in either shot. Come on Allen. What gives buddy?

It was late in the evening so there was some "brilliant" lighting.  You can see that in the light reflections off the water in the upper part of the pic.  This one is a coho.  And a fatty at that.  I conservatively estimated 12 pounds.

Did nobody read my report?  http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,20176.0.html

This pic and an ID of it being a coho were right there.  Hah!

-Allen

Allen/PolePole, I read your report so I disqualified myself  . Outstanding report and pictures.

 When the ocean salmon season was open here locally you knew (most of the time) you had a "silver" ....those things can fly and hate coming to the boat.

There are small kings too Dilbeck called jack slamon.

True, although it could be a Jennie Salmon also.

I guess I just thought of Jacks as being 4, 5, or 6 lbs. or something around there, not 10-15 lbs.  Learn something new everyday.

Michael

Those silvers were so thick in MoBay 5 years ago! It was like a 2-1 hookup ratio. And after catching/fighting a few, you can practically ID it before getting color.
IMO its easier to ID them based on the fight moreso than from a random photo.

BTW nice fish Allen! Epic report & beautiful pics too.

Chinook have a particular smell to them too.  Moreso when they are immature.  Sort of a metallic smell.  Anyone know what I'm talking about?

-Allen

Chinook have a particular smell to them too.  Moreso when they are immature.  Sort of a metallic smell.  Anyone know what I'm talking about?
-Allen

Nope, They all smell fishy and delicious to me 

It's also lacking the back spots you see on the kings.