ID'ing a Chinook vs a Coho

I'm pretty good at identifying a king vs a silver, but the top of the mouth in white threw me off on this one from yesterday - an 8 pound or so fish.  I thought at the time that it was a king, but I had a 20 pounder on board, so I released this one.  Later while looking at the vid I was capturing screenshots and it looked like a silver with that white mouth up top, but I think now it was a king.  The coloration, spots and black I can see around its lower teeth all look like a king. 

Any pro opinions?

My vote is for the king, but I'm no expert.

Looks like a chinook to me Eric.

Video publishing now.

Summer 2012 Kayak Salmon Series:  Releasing a Smaller King Boatside

I'd go by the lower jaw.

I was always told he same.black mouth let it go.looks like you got the salmon dialed in good

Everybody is wrong.  At least the first pic anyway.   First pick looks like a baby GWS.


Eric Morgan
Trident Ultra 4.7
Not the guy selling the Outback
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When in doubt let it go. I think it was a king. But I would have done the same thing. Especially with a Mogan on board already.

Good one, Eric - that first pic totally does look like a little GWS!   

There was no doubt at the time - I was sure it was a king and was letting it go so I could get a bigger one.  It was just the screenshot later showing that white roof of the mouth that got me thinking otherwise.  Definitely a king.

Looks like a king but I'd check to see if there are spots on the lower half of the tail. I'm sure you'll be rewarded the next time out with a 40# for releasing this one w/out yakking it when you weren't sure.

 


  Looked like dinner to me!

Looks like a king but I'd check to see if there are spots on the lower half of the tail.

This!
It looks like a purple king to me though.

Eric,
From the pics you posted that is 100% a Chinook.  Thanks for putting this up as after reading a few of the posts after yours because it seems we need a refresher here:

1. Only look at lower jaw.  Tailspotting is absolutely not a good characteristics for ID as I catch many kings a year with almost no spotting on the lower lobe of the caudal (tail) fin.  REPEAT!! Only look at lower jaw as these are 100% characteristics (I have seen literally thousands of all species involved and these rules hold true):

Chinook = Black tongue, black gums (where the teeth are embedded is black) (this is why they are called blackmouths in WA)
Steelhead = white tongue, white gums (where the teeth are embedded)
Coho  = black tongue, black gums BUT, they have a white (maybe gray but NOT black) gum line where their teeth are embedded.

That's it!  Every other characteristic (and there are many like coho are usually green on top, well Chinook can be too) should not be relied upon for ID.

Eric,
From the pics you posted that is 100% a Chinook.  Thanks for putting this up as after reading a few of the posts after yours because it seems we need a refresher here:

1. Only look at lower jaw.  Tailspotting is absolutely not a good characteristics for ID as I catch many kings a year with almost no spotting on the lower lobe of the caudal (tail) fin.  REPEAT!! Only look at lower jaw as these are 100% characteristics (I have seen literally thousands of all species involved and these rules hold true):

Chinook = Black tongue, black gums (where the teeth are embedded is black) (this is why they are called blackmouths in WA)
Steelhead = white tongue, white gums (where the teeth are embedded)
Coho  = black tongue, black gums BUT, they have a white (maybe gray but NOT black) gum line where their teeth are embedded.

That's it!  Every other characteristic (and there are many like coho are usually green on top, well Chinook can be too) should not be relied upon for ID.

It's not advisable to use the spots on the lower tail as a primary identifier. And identifying them by the black gums isn't always black and white (no pun intended). There have been cases when a small white dot can get you a fine and you have to use other ways to make sure that it's a king.