Guide to Salmon and Whitefish in Alaska

COHO SALMON “Out of all subsistence animals and everything that we take to eat, the one thing that is called Silver or hooknose ‘The Food’ is the fish. It’s the staple you know, the backbone of everything.” Guide to Salmon and Evelyn Thomas, Crooked Creek CHINOOK SALMON Whitefish in Alaska King Qakiiyaq, Needlii, Qalugrauq

Description: Greenish-blue back; silvery sides; small black spots along back, dorsal fin, and upper lobe of tail; broad tail base with silver radiating into tail; greenish-black heads and brown to maroon bodies; Taryaqvak, Iqalugruaq, hooked nose when spawning. Luk choo, Tagayukpuk Range: Southeast Alaska to Point Hope; most abundant July through September in marine waters, Description: Blue-grey back; silvery sides; small black and through October in fresh waters. spots along back, dorsal fin, and tail; maroon to olive brown when spawning. Length: 24 to 38 inches. Range: Southeast Alaska to the Yukon River; most CHUM SALMON abundant May through August in marine and fresh waters. Alida Trainor, ADF&G Dog Length: 30 to 55 inches. This field guide will help you to identify all species Division of Subsistence of salmon, whitefish, and sheefish present in Mission Statement: Alaska. Species accounts include English and some To scientifically quantify, evaluate, Alaska Native names, descriptions, color photos, Teggmaarrluk, and report information about ranges, and more! Iqalugruaq, Qalugruaq, customary and traditional uses of Hii (Shii), Iqalluk fish and wildlife resources. ADF&G The core services of the Division of Subsistence are to: Description: Metallic greenish-gray back; yellowish- 1. Research, quantify, and provide the resulting information to Division of Subsistence silver sides; no distinct spots; fine black speckles in the public about customary and traditional uses by Alaskans © 2015 Alaska Department of Fish & Game ocean bright phase; olive green and purple bars on of fish and wildlife resources. 2. Provide scientifically-based information for fisheries and sides with white edges on fins when spawning; males wildlife management programs; and to Board of Fisheries develop large, sharp teeth. and Board of Game for their use in evaluating reasonable www.subsistence.adfg.state.ak.us Range: Wide distribution throughout coastal and opportunities for customary and traditional uses. marine and fresh waters from July through August. Photo credits: whitefish identification photos Randy Brown, USFWS; A distinct spring run and a fall run of chum are salmon identification and ocean phase photos ©1997-2005 Washington experienced in some areas. Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Each WDFW salmon image is a reproduction of a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife photo. ADF&G complies with OEO requirements as posted at Length: 24 to 32 inches. The accuracy of the reproduction cannot be guaranteed by WDFW. http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=home.oeostatement HUMPBACK Pikuktuuq, Cingiikegleq BROAD Taasiza, Aanaakliq, PINK SALMON Qaalgiq, Neeghan Qausriluk, Tilay, WHITEFISH WHITEFISH Chiishoo, Qaurtuq Humpback

Description: Silver-colored with large scales; can be Terteq, Cuqpeq, Description: Small head; wide body from stomach to distinguished from humpback whitefish by its size, Pikuktuuq, Amaqtuq, deeper head, shorter gillrakers, and short, blunt backbone; silver-colored with large scales. Neeghan, Holaahga snout. Range: All drainages north of the Alaska Range; Copper and Susitna rivers; Bristol Bay drainages. Range: Yukon and Kuskokwim drainages; nearshore Description: Blue back; silvery sides; large spots on waters of the Bering and Chukchi seas; Arctic Ocean Length: Up to 22 inches. back; oval blotches on tail lobes; and small scales. drainages. Dull grey back, creamy white belly when spawning; SHEEFISH Cii, Ciiq, Sii, Length: 16 inches. males also develop large, humped backs. Siigruaq, Nidlagha, Range: Throughout the North Pacific, returning to Inconnu Shryah, Sresr ROUND Quptik, Tilagha Alaska from late June through mid-August. Savigunnaq, Khaltai’, Length: 15 to 24 inches. WHITEFISH Cev’eq

Description: Strong extended lower jaw; streamlined silvery body; darker colored back; often displays a Description: Rounded cigar-shaped body with phosphorescent purple sheen when taken from the tiny, pointed snout and single nasal flap; upper jaw water. extends over the lower so the mouth is below. SOCKEYE SALMON Range: Wide distribution; most abundant in the Range: Throughout most of Alaska. Red Yukon and Kuskokwim river drainages and in Selawik and Kobuk drainages of Kotzebue Sound. Length: Up to 16 inches. Length: 16 to 30 inches. Iqalusaaq, Iituliq BERING CISCO Tiipuq, Imarpinraq, LEAST CISCO Qalusraaq, Ch’ootsik, Tipuk, Iltin Tsabagha Cayak, Sayak, Qalugrauq

Description: Distinguishable from the least cisco Description: Dark blue-black; silvery sides; may have fine pepper-like speckling; relatively large eyes; Description: Slender and herring-like; lower jaw by smaller eyes and scales, more silver color, white brilliant dark red when spawning. projects beyond the upper; adults brown to olive pectoral and pelvic fins, mouth at the tip of the body. green above and silvery below. Range: Bering Sea drainages of the Seward Range: Throughout the North Pacific and Arctic oceans; abundant from late June to early August, but Range: North of the Alaska Range; south to the Peninsula; Cook Inlet; Norton Sound; Yukon, timing may vary greatly in certain areas. Bristol Bay drainage. Kuskokwim, and Susitna rivers. Length: 18 to 24 inches. Length: Up to 14 inches. Length: 17 inches.

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