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Help with Identification - Found on Beach

2K views 15 replies 12 participants last post by  kelvin 
#1 ·
Found this dead on the beach this morning - Narrows Park. It was about 4 inches long. I was thinking it's a coho smolt, but could it be an SRC?

(By the way, lots of fish jumping in the water but nothing hit)
 

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#5 ·
Identification of salmonid smolts is not an easy thing. Prior to entering salt water most have adopted the typical coloration of a smolt; silvery on the sides with a bluish or greenish back and, depending on light conditions, photographs frequently do not render the colors accurately. Since most Puget Sound cutthroat do not smolt until having reached a length of about six inches it would be unlikely to be a cutthroat; ditto steelhead (6 to 9 inches). The size and slightly forked tail might indicate a coho.
 
#10 ·
I showed the photo to some co-workers that have extensive experience running smolt traps and the consensus was that the fish is a Chinook. Without being able to clearly see the adipose and anal fins, Chinook cannot stated without any definitiveness. A forked tail is a feature that all salmon have and that is how we were able to eliminate it from being rainbow/steelhead or cutthroat trout.
 
#11 ·
Agreed, but not being able to see all of the fins clearly makes any identification a guess at best. Since the fish still shows faint parr marks it must have only recently completed the smoltification process and a better picture of its dorsal and anal fins might (or might not) show enough of the typical black and white patterning of the coho to make a positive guess.
 
#13 ·
I agree with Bruce and Preston positive ID is difficult without a better picture of the fins. Without that sort of evidence the best characteristic to look at is the parr marks and coloration. A chum would tend to be more green on its back and that bluish hue suggest coho/Chinook. Based on the width and spacing of the parr marks (including extending below the lateral line) indicates that the fish in question is most likely a Chinook.

curt
 
#15 ·
Definitely a Chinook salmon. Trout (sh and cutthroat) have spots on tail. Coho have white leading edge on anal fin as juveniles and parr marks (vertical dark bands) that are narrow and spaced. Those parr marks are wide and close together. Always seems crazy when you see a dead fish that hasn't been eaten in marine water. Thanks for sharing
 
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