The largest of all the pacific Salmon species, the mighty Chinook Salmon may attain a weight of over 100 pounds! Spawning in large rivers from  California to Alaska the Chinook average 18 to 24 pounds with up to 127 pounds recorded. Chinook have small black spots on the back, dorsal fin, and tail fin. The gums at the base of the teeth are gray. Fall run Chinook are robust and deep bodied, while spring Chinook are smaller and slimmer.They have a characteristic odor.
Fall Chinook spawn soon after arriving at their spawning grounds - usually in large rivers. The fry spend three to four months in fresh water. Spring Chinook migrate earlier, but delay spawning until fall, and they spawn in smaller tributaries. Their fry spend a year or more in fresh water.
Their spawning age varies from two to seven years but most typically four. Chinook smolts will spend as little as a few weeks in fresh water to as long as one year!
CHINOOK SALMON MIGRATION ROUTE:
Chinook Salmon are known to migrate vast distances, and are found sparsely distributed across the Pacific Ocean from the Okhostk to the Bering Seas.
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