North Cascades

Salmon of the Skagit River Watershed

Chinook Salmon (also called king, tyee, blackmouth) Oncorhyncus tshawytscha Chinook are the least abundant species of salmon in the Skagit River Watershed. They are the longest lived and largest of the Pacific salmon. Chinooks spend one or more years in the fresh water before migrating to the ocean. They generally remain in the ocean for two to four years, although some stay as long as eight years. Chinook are overall olive-brown to purple in color with large irregular spots on their backs, upper sides and tails. The males are usually darker than the females. They do not change radically in appearance during spawning as other salmon do. Their principal spawning months are from August through October. "There are two runs of wild Chinook in the Skagit Watershed, known as the spring run and the summer run. The spring run spawns in the headwaters of smaller streams in the Skagit Watershed. The summer run spawns in the main stem of the Skagit River." (North Cascades Institute. Eagle Watchers Training Manual). Chinook, because of their size, generally stay in the deep, fast waters of larger streams and rivers. Chinook average 20 pounds in weight, but have been recorded up to 135 pounds, and can grow to a length of 58 inches.