Erika and I occasionally hike along Kennedy Creek a few miles west of Olympia. We were aware of a salmon viewing area along the creek, but we had never seen any fish—until 11 November 2019. Chum Salmon, splashed, spawned, and died in the stream. This spawing area is only a mile from Puget Sound—typical spawning habitat. In Washington, Chum do not swim as far upstream as Coho Salmon—Chums’ larger size keeps them in relatively deeper water and Chum are poorer jumpers (WDFD). Elsewhere, however, Chum make extended travels up larger rivers.
The Chum Salmon is this photo is probably a non-hatchery released individual since its adipose fin is present. This current-sensing fin can be seen on the fish’s back, behind the dorsal fin and in front of th tail. Fishery biologists often cut off the adipose fin so that researchers can easily recognize hatchery raised fish—for more see my blog on Coho Salmon.
Chum enjoy the largest range of any Pacific salmon. Chum breed in rivers along the North Pacific Rim in Korea, Japan, eastern Russia, Alaska, British Columbia south to California (where they are rare or extirpated). In the ocean, they swim relatively near the surface, deeper in the day than at night (Wikipedia).
The Chum Salmon is this photo is probably a non-hatchery released individual since its adipose fin is present. This current-sensing fin can be seen on the fish’s back, behind the dorsal fin and in front of th tail. Fishery biologists often cut off the adipose fin so that researchers can easily recognize hatchery raised fish—for more see my blog on Coho Salmon.
Chum enjoy the largest range of any Pacific salmon. Chum breed in rivers along the North Pacific Rim in Korea, Japan, eastern Russia, Alaska, British Columbia south to California (where they are rare or extirpated). In the ocean, they swim relatively near the surface, deeper in the day than at night (Wikipedia).
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