A white tip on the anal fin (lower fin just before the tail) usually identifies chum salmon. Resembling sockeye, but larger, chum have silvery sides and faint grid-like bars as they near spawning streams. They live three to five years and weigh about 4.5 kg to 6.5 kg, but they have been known to reach as much as 15 kg. The lips are fleshy with well-developed teeth in both jaws; there are no teeth on the base of the tongue. The tail is slightly forked and has silver streaks covering about half of the fin. The tail base or wrist is slender.
Chum are sometimes confused with sockeye, because they both lack spots on their tails and have a similar colouring. Always look for the silver streaks in the chum’s tail.

Did you know… Chum salmon develop large “teeth” during spawning, hence the nickname “dog salmon”.