August 4th, 2009

When Is The Best Time To Catch Alaska Wild Salmon

Alaska is famous for its wild salmon. The flavour of Alaskan salmon depends upon fat content and the environment in which it matured. Alaska’s pure waters and the abundance of natural food give Alaska salmon unparalleled flavor.

Although salmon are caught in Alaska’s spotless waters year-round, fishing season in Anchorage and southcentral Alaska really heats up in late May, when the cherished king salmon returns home to spawn in the area’s glacier-fed, freshwater streams.

The remaining four varieties of Pacific salmon-sockeye, coho, chum and pink-are also found in the general area.

Many anglers are now making an attempt to catch what’s known as a “grand slam”-all five species of salmon. Some say a straightforward way to recollect which kind is which is to match them up with the fingers on your hand.

• Thumb-Chum salmon ( Dog ). The best fishing for this fish is mid-July to late August. Chum salmon have a firm texture, enticing orange-pink color and delicate flavor that makes it an ideal fish for smoking. The average weight is eight pounds and they can grow to be 25 to 27 inches long.

• Pointer finger-Sockeye salmon (Red). Most available late May to early June or mid-July, sockeye salmon are the 2nd most abundant Alaskan salmon species. This species turns from a silvery color to a bright red body and green head as they start the journey upriver to spawn. Their average weight is 6 pounds and they can grow to almost 3 feet in length.

• Middle finger-King salmon ( Chinook ). The best fishing for king salmon is mid-June to mid- July. The biggest species of salmon in Alaska, they are cherished for their color, high oil content, firm texture and tender taste. Average weight is roughly 20 pounds and length goes from thirty to 40 inches.

• Ring finger-Silver salmon ( Coho ). With its orange-red flesh, firm texture and delicate flavor, cohos are very popular among locals. The best fishing for them is in early August to mid-September. Cohos are the second biggest of the species, with average weights of twelve pounds, and range between twenty-five to 35 inches in length.

&8226 ; Pinky finger-Pink salmon (Humpy). At the height of their run, millions of pinks swim up the freshwater streams and streams to spawning grounds. Pinks are the littlest and most common of the species and average about 2 - 3 pounds. The best fishing for pinks happens in mid-July to late August.

For more easy to make recipes, visit cooking101.org and also read about salmon fish cakes.

Technorati Tags: , ,

Leave a Reply