If you’ve ever fished in the waters off Haida Gwaii, you’ve likely encountered Coho and Chinook salmon. Both are prized Pacific salmon species, drawing anglers from all over the world to British Columbia's coast, but they could hardly be more different once you're actually on the line. From size and fighting style to migration timing and how they taste on the plate, here's how to tell Coho and Chinook apart, and why the distinction matters whether you're planning a trip or just trying to win a bar bet.
It's hard to miss a Chinook salmon. As the largest of all Pacific salmon species, Chinook average around 20 pounds, though fish well over 30 pounds aren't unusual in productive waters like those around Langara Island. There's a reason they're also known as King salmon. Coho, by comparison, run smaller, typically 8 to 12 pounds at maturity.
Size alone isn't a reliable way to tell them apart, though, especially with larger Coho or Chinook on the smaller end. The most reliable distinguishing feature is the mouth. Coho have white gums, while Chinook have a black gum line, hence why anglers sometimes call them "blackmouth" salmon. Coho also tend to show a greenish-black head and dark blue back in the ocean, while Chinook have a more silvery, deep-bodied build with irregular black spotting along the back and both lobes of the tail.
Coho and Chinook have completely different fighting styles, and knowing which one you've hooked changes how you should play it. This is one of the biggest reasons guests on our guided fishing tours lean on our guides, who can read a fish's behaviour in seconds and help you adjust before you lose your catch.
Coho are the acrobats of the water. They tend to leap and thrash the moment they feel the hook, which is why many anglers switch to a lighter rod for better feel and flexibility.
Chinook play a different game entirely. They typically hold in deeper water and, once hooked, often dive further down rather than up, using their sheer size to test both the angler and the tackle. Landing one can be a challenge, but it's exactly why Chinook fishing draws seasoned anglers back season after season.
Chinook are among the earliest salmon to begin their migration through BC's coastal waters, with fish moving through the Gulf of Alaska as early as May. Numbers typically peak between June and July, making early summer prime time for Chinook.
Coho arrive a little later, usually showing up in meaningful numbers by June, with the run building through the summer. Both species can still be found in these waters into late September, giving anglers a long window to target either one depending on the trip.
Because both runs overlap with our peak summer season, June through September is when Haida Gwaii sees its best Chinook and Coho fishing at the same time, which is also when availability at West Coast Fishing Club fills up fastest. Guests planning a trip around a specific species should book well ahead. Check available dates for the season you're targeting.
Chinook is prized in the kitchen for its high fat content, which keeps it moist and forgiving even at high heat. It holds up well to grilling, slow-roasting and pan-searing, where high heat produces a crisp skin and a rich, buttery interior.
Coho holds its vibrant colour through cooking, making it as striking on the plate as it is on the line. It's leaner than Chinook, with a lighter, more delicate flavour, but that lower fat content also means it cooks faster and dries out more easily if left on the heat too long. Smoking or grilling a fillet over a cedar plank is many peoples’ favourite way to prepare it, though a gentle poach or broil works just as well for guests who prefer a more delicate finish.
Guests who book a fishing package with us can taste the difference firsthand. Every Chinook and Coho we help you land is filleted, vacuum packed and flash frozen, so it arrives home ready for whichever preparation you choose.
Why not both. If you're after a true test of strength and stamina, Chinook fishing is what many people return each year to WCFC for. If you want fast, acrobatic action and a lighter fight, Coho delivers just as much excitement on a different scale. Either way, our guides tailor the day's approach, tackle and technique to whichever species is running, so you're set up for success no matter what's biting. Explore our lodges to start planning your trip.
Salmon retention rules in British Columbia change frequently by fishing area, season and even week to week based on run strength. Rather than rely on a fixed number, check DFO's current recreational fishing regulations for area 1 before your trip or wait for our team to confirm current limits when you arrive.
For a beginner salmon angler, the essentials include a rod and reel suited to the fishing method, appropriate line and leader, barbless hooks, locally effective lures or bait, and a landing net. Anglers fishing BC tidal waters also need a valid BC tidal waters fishing licence and must follow current regulations, including barbless hook requirements for salmon.
At West Coast Fishing Club, guests don’t need to arrive with their own fishing equipment. Rods, reels, tackle and other essential gear are provided, with setups selected for the species, location and conditions you’ll be fishing. For guided trips, your guide will also help with everything from tackle selection and technique to landing your fish, making it easy for first-time anglers to get started.
Leave a Comment
Your email address will not be published. Your comment will be displayed once it is approved by the site admin.
Your email address will not be published.
Your comment will be displayed once it is approved by the site admin.