Alaska
>> Species >> King
Salmon
Alaskan King Salmon
King Salmon
Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha
Market Names: Salmon, Chinook,
King, Spring
Vernacular Names: Tee Salmon,
Winter Salmon, Quinnat Salmon, King Salmon, Spring Salmon, Tyee
Salmon, Tule Salmon and Blackmouth Salmon
Description: King Salmon have
a blueish-green back with silvery sides and a white belly and
black spots on the back and tail and silver splashes in teh
tail. King salmon range from 25-126 pounds and are 5-7 years
of age. The flesh of the King salmon is highly prized for it's
rich salmon flavor and firm flesh. The natural numbers of wild
King salmon is quite low compared to the other species of salmon.
But is being managed to maintain the historical escapement goals
and is in no way endagered in Alaska. Is both commerically havested
and is also a prize sport fish.
Life Cycle: There are several
stages to the life cycle of an Alaskan KingSalmon, 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. King salmon spend
a year or more as a fry in the fresh water streams. At which
time it is considered a smolt when it is ready to head to the
ocean were it will stay until it matures into an adult salmon.
An adult King salmon will feed and continue to grow for four
or five years until it reaches maturity. The mature female salmon
will begin its journey back to its exact place of origin were
it will deposit its bounty of eggs and then die, continuing
the salmon life cycle.
Run Times: King salmon runs are
typically seen in south central Alaska starting in May and ending
in August.
Record weight sport caught king salmon:
97 lbs. 4 oz. caught by Lester Anderson of Soldotna, Alaska
in 1985 while fishing on the Kenai River.
Nutritional Information: One
½ lb. fillet of King Salmon has 354.4 calories, 39.4
grams of protein, 20.6 grams of fat, 6.1 grams of saturated
fat and 93 milligrams of sodium.
Seafood Nutrition
Table
Click on the link below to learn about other
specie.
Home
| About Us |
Gift Packs
| Services
| Recipes | Smoking
| Alaskana
| FAQ | Shipping
| Contact Us | Help
