Coho Salmon

Identification

The coho salmon is a medium-sized Pacific salmon reaching 90 cm. In its silvery ocean phase, it has a dark back with small black spots on the upper tail fin lobe. During spawning, males turn deep dark red with a greenish head and a pronounced hooked upper jaw.

Ecology

In its native range along the Pacific coast of North America, the coho salmon ascends rivers to spawn in cool, fast-flowing streams. All adults die after spawning — a hallmark of all Pacific salmon species. Juveniles spend 1-2 years in freshwater before migrating to sea.

In the Netherlands

The coho salmon is not native and occurs only very incidentally. With a single record in our database, it likely represents a stray individual or aquaculture escape. Stocking attempts with Pacific salmon in European rivers have largely failed.