Chum Salmon

Oncorhynchus keta are one of the most numerous salmonids. In Russia its range is the Artic Ocean basin, Bear and Okhotsk seas, the coast of Kamchatka, Sakhalin and the Kuril islands. Chum salmon change their silvery color to their mating dress when it is time to spawn; the head and upper body turn dark purple to black and dark crimson stripes appear on the body. In females there is little change. In males, the upper jaw is overgrown in the form of a powerful hook. The body grows flatter due to the development of a large hump behind the head. For catching this fish, spin fishing and live baits are good techniques.