Best Time To Watch Alaska Salmon Is Now

Alaska is feted for its wild salmon. The flavor of Alaskan salmon depends upon fat content and the environment in which it matured. Alaska's pure waters and the variety 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 trying to catch what's known as a "grand slam"-all five species of salmon. Some say an easy way to recollect which kind is which is to match them up with the fingers on your hand.

&8226 ; Thumb-Chum salmon ( Dog ). The best fishing for this fish is mid-July to late Aug. Chum salmon have a firm texture, tempting orange-pink color and delicate flavor that makes it an ideal fish for smoking. The average weight is 8 pounds and they can grow to be 25 to twenty-seven inches long.

• Pointer finger-Sockeye salmon (Red). Most available late May to early June or mid-July, sockeye salmon are the second 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 six pounds and they can grow to almost three feet in length.

&8226 ; Middle finger-King salmon ( Chinook ). The best fishing for king salmon is mid-June to mid- July. The largest species of salmon in Alaska, they are cherished for their color, high oil content, firm texture and tasty taste. Average weight is approximately 20 pounds and length ranges from thirty to forty inches.

&8226 ; Ring finger-Silver salmon ( Coho ). With its orange-red flesh, firm texture and delicate flavor, cohos are extremely well-liked among neighbors. The best fishing for them is present in early August to mid-September. Cohos are the second biggest of the species, with average weights of twelve pounds, and range from 25 to 35 inches in length.

&8226 ; Pinky finger-Pink salmon (Humpy). At the height of their run, millions of pinks swim up the freshwater brooks and streams to spawning grounds. Pinks are the smallest and most common of the species and average about two to three 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 recipe for salmon croquettes.

Tags: alaska salmon, fishing, Salmon