Alaska
>> Species >> Coho
Salmon
Wild Coho Salmon
Coho Salmon
Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus
Kisutch
Market Names: Salmon, Coho, Silver,
Medium Red
Vernacular Names: Hoopid Salmon,
White Salmon, Silver Salmon, Medium Red Salmon
Description: Coho Salmon are
bright silver with small black spots on their backs and on the
upper part of their caudal fin. The average weight is 6-12 pounds.
The flesh of the Coho salmon is light pink and has a very delicate
flavor. A very difficult salmon to keep fresh because of it's
feeding habits. The flesh tends to soften very quickly unless
dressed immediately after being caught.
Life Cycle: There are several
stages to the life cycle of an Alaska Salmon, eggs-alevins-fry-smolt-adult-spawning
adult. An adult salmon deposits her eggs in gravel beds (also
called redds) in freshwater streams and rivers. Once the eggs
have been fertilized by the male salmon the embryos will incubate
over the winter months and then hatch into alevins in late winter.
In the alevins phase of life the salmon take on a strange appearance
having large eyes, a ballooning orange sack and pencil like
body. Approximately 4 months after becoming an alevin the young
salmon changes into a fry. A salmon fry averages 1 inch in length,
has an elongated body and is free swimming. Coho Salmon will
spend 3 years in slow moving streams and lakes before migrating
to the sea. A fry blossoms into a smolt when it is ready to
head to the ocean were it will stay until it matures into an
adult salmon. An adult salmon will feed and continue to grow
until it reaches maturity after only about 18 months at sea.
The mature female salmon will begin its journey back to its
place of origin were it will deposit its bounty of eggs and
then die, continuing the salmon life cycle.
Run Times: Coho salmon runs are
typically seen in south central Alaska starting in late July
and ending in the end of October.
Record weight sport caught coho salmon:
26 lbs. caught by Andrew Robbins in 1976 while fishing the Icy
Straight.
Nutritional Information: One
½ lb. fillet of Coho Salmon has 289 calories, 42.8 grams
of protein, 11.7 grams of fat, 2.4 grams of saturated fat and
91 milligrams of sodium.
Seafood Nutrition
Table
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