Saltwater · Fall; river runs peak October to November
Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
A big, hard-fighting fall salmon that fills coastal rivers in October and November. Ocean-bright chum strike chartreuse and purple lures aggressively; coloured river fish are powerful and acrobatic.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Large salmon, commonly 8-15 lb, with a deeply forked tail and no distinct black spots on the body
- Faint dark bars and a pale horizontal stripe can show even on ocean fish
- Spawning fish turn olive-green with bold purple vertical bars and white-tipped fins
- Spawning males develop large canine-like teeth and a hooked snout
- Look-alike: sockeye salmon are smaller and slimmer with a green-blue back and no faint body bars in the ocean
Habits
- Move in schools through estuaries, then stack into lower-river pools
- Ocean fish feed on squid, shrimp and small fish
- Strike bright green and chartreuse offerings out of aggression
- Most active on the moving tide and in low morning light
Distribution
Where to find them
- Deep, slow pools in the lower few kilometres of coastal rivers
- Estuary channels and edges on the flooding tide
- Seams below gravel bars where fish pause on the way upstream
Where they live
How to catch them
Float fishing jigs in rivers
Rig: Float with a 1/4 oz jig suspended 1-2 ft off bottom
Bait/lure: Purple, chartreuse and cerise marabou jigs
Key tip: Dead-drift through deep pools and adjust depth until you find the travelling lane.
Casting spinners in the estuary
Rig: 3/8-1/2 oz spinner retrieved slow and deep
Bait/lure: Chartreuse and green spinners
Key tip: Bright chum crush spinners on the flood. Keep the lure near bottom.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: 10'6" medium-heavy spinning or drift rod
- Line: 30 lb braid, 15-20 lb leader
- Terminal: Floats, jigs, chartreuse spinners
Recommended gear for this species
Trolling rod · Best value
10'6" mooching/trolling rod (medium-heavy)
≈ US$120-180
Long soft action absorbs flasher load and keeps barbless hooks pinned.
Reel · Budget
Line-counter or mooching reel, 300 size
≈ US$70-110
Repeatable depth is half of salmon trolling; a counter makes it repeatable.
Terminal · Budget
11" flasher + anchovy teaser heads (2-pack)
≈ US$25-35
The chinook standard on this coast. Greens and chartreuse first.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 8-15 lb; large specimens 20 lb+
On the table
Fair to good — firm when ocean-bright; best smoked, flesh softens quickly upstream.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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