Help with fish ID
- Thread starter BigBoat
- Start date
It is a Coho. In a difficult Coho/Sockeye case the teeth are a sure giveaway. The teeth of that fish are pronounced and needle like. If running your finger along the gums would be uncomfortable its a Coho... Sockeye gums are almost like sandpaper... very fine teeth. The only caveat here is that a very mature Sockeye may be developing the fighting teeth at the tip of the lower jaw. However, these face rearward and are different than the feeding teeth along the jaw
Ian wagner
Active Member
Ian wagner
Active Member
. Never seen a sockeye with spots on back or silver in tail fin but have caught hatchery sockeye in vedder river bad idea to clip apidose seen a few killed because it was missing fin and thought was sockeye commercials who said was sockeye must have been drunk
UkeeDreamin
Well-Known Member
Am I the only one who thinks anyone killing a fish when they aren't 100% sure of the ID, and one of the possibilities is closed, is poaching and should be charged as such? All the shaming that happens on this site over possession limits discussions and no one has called out the greed and selfishness shown by killing a fish they have no clue on the ID?!!
Learn your fish ID and when you don't know - let it go!!
Cheers!
Ukee
Learn your fish ID and when you don't know - let it go!!
Cheers!
Ukee
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Coho.
BigBoat
Crew Member
Based upon the responses to this thread it appears that all would have put this fish in the box as a hatchery coho. The angler did what most respondents did. He noted the white mouth and clipped fin and assumed coho. However, the white coloration in the mouth and jaw line is present in both species so perhaps not definitive to assume all hatchery fish are cohos. It was only when he got to the cleaning table and noted the tail with no silver, very small teeth and very red flesh that he decided to solicit a second opinion.
The good information provided in this thread will further educate those fishermen less experienced than many of you. The first response by Tubber with a photo showing a sharp contrast in coloration was particularly helpful. Sandpaper like teeth is also unique.
I am curious though, what do the commercial fishermen do with bi-catch that is closed to retention? Wouldn't a far greater number of fish be taken than those kept by inexperienced sport fisherman?
UkeeDreamin
Well-Known Member
Whether or not commies kill bycatch doesn't excuse killing a fish you're not confident of the ID. Same goes for whether or not others may or may not have done the same. Two (or more) wrongs don't make a right!
Prominent teeth on the tongue, black colour in mouth except for gums, normal size eye for head size ... lots of queues it's a coho. While it's more than fair if a person isn't confident in their ID on every fish, still doesn't change the fact you should be releasing anything you're not 100% sure of - IMHO.
Cheers!
Ukee
Charlie415
Crew Member
Chum
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
chum
scott craven
Well-Known Member
Agree Chum,
the mouth shot shows the big incisor teeth starting to show.
the mouth shot shows the big incisor teeth starting to show.
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
Chum. the white anil fin
