The Coho Salmon

By Staff - Jun 15, 2003

Low escapements have resulted in commercial and sport closures on many of the provinces streams. The Coho enters the Valleys streams in late August and can be caught in good shape into December. Later in the year the Northern Coho appear in the coast streams, and these fish tend to bigger than their early running brothers. The Coho has white gums and a forked tail. The typical Fraser Valley Coho weighs nine to ten pounds , a fifteen pound fish is big. In spawning colors the Coho is a deep red.

Mature coho salmon migrate to spawning streams primarily from September to November (as early as July and late as December). Spawn in gravel reaches of small streams from Mid-October to Mid-December, and may extend into February. Adults die soon after spawning. Alevins remain in gravel after hatching until yolk sac has been absorbed. Fry emerge in April and May and rear in freshwater for one year or two years. In May and June, after spending 1-2 years in stream or off-channel habitat, smolts migrate to estuary. In smaller systems, fry may rear in estuary until late September or November and overwinter in nearshore areas. Generally smolts do not utilize inner estuaries for extended periods of time, but may rear in outer estuary until June or off tidal flats until fall. In late summer or fall most juveniles migrate to open ocean to feed. Ocean migration lasts about 18 months. Some coho reside solely inshore. Small percentage of males or "jacks" only spend one summer in ocean before returning to freshwater to spawn. Returning mature adults may hold off the mouths of spawning rivers for several days or weeks prior to migrating upstream to spawn. Adults may reach 98 cm.

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