Identify Alaska salmon by checking the tail spots, mouth and gumline together, then use body markings as a cross-check. ADF&G’s identification sheet, dated April 2022, distinguishes king, sockeye, coho, pink and chum using these features. Identification must come before lifting a fish out: ADF&G’s 2026 documents close directed wild king salmon fishing in Northern Cook Inlet and impose coho release requirements in the Susitna and Little Susitna drainages.
Salmon identification at a glance
The features below come from ADF&G’s April 2022 identification sheet. Start with a combination of marks, rather than deciding from body shape or color alone. A wet tail folded against a fish can conceal spots, while poor light can make a white gumline difficult to see.
| Species | Other name | Spots | Mouth and gumline | Other clues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King | Chinook | Back and both tail lobes | Black mouth; black gumline | Separate from coho by checking the lower tail lobe and gumline |
| Sockeye | Red | No distinct spots on back or tail | White mouth; white gumline | Large, bright gold eye |
| Coho | Silver | Back and upper tail lobe only | Black mouth; white gumline | Check the gumline carefully when distinguishing from king |
| Pink | Humpy | Large oval spots on back and both tail lobes | White mouth; black gumline | Spot shape helps distinguish from king |
| Chum | Dog | No spots | White mouth; white gumline | Calico body bands, often faint in salt water |
A salmon’s arrival date supports an identification but does not establish it. Runs overlap, and the presence of a species says nothing about permission to target or retain it. Use the run timing guide to understand likely encounters, then identify the actual fish.
Check the tail, mouth and gumline
Make identification part of landing the fish, before deciding to retain it. Keep the fish supported in the water while checking features, especially when a release requirement may apply. Avoid prolonged handling just to obtain a better view.
- Look at both tail lobes. Under ADF&G’s April 2022 identification sheet, king and pink salmon have spots on both lobes; coho have spots on the upper lobe only.
- Check the mouth and the gumline separately. The same ADF&G sheet identifies king by a black mouth and black gumline, coho by a black mouth and white gumline, and pink by a white mouth and black gumline.
- If distinct spots are absent, compare the remaining clues. ADF&G’s April 2022 sheet describes sockeye with a large bright gold eye and chum with calico bands; both have white mouths and white gumlines.
- Cross-check the whole fish. If the visible features disagree or remain unclear, keep it in the water and release it rather than guessing at a retention decision.
Small salmon and fish seen through moving water can be difficult to identify. Size alone does not settle the question. Juvenile fish may not present the features clearly enough for a confident identification; an uncertain fish should not become a fish kept on assumption.
Spawning colors change the appearance
A bright fish and a fish approaching spawning can look substantially different. The following spawning descriptions come from ADF&G’s April 2022 identification sheet. Use them alongside the mouth and tail checks, rather than replacing those checks with body color.
- King: maroon or olive brown, with spots remaining.
- Sockeye: red body and dull green head; males become humped.
- Coho: dark maroon with a dark back; males develop a hooked nose, called a kype.
- Pink: dull gray back with cream or white lower sides; large oval spots remain.
- Chum: vertical calico bands; males develop large canine-like teeth.
Do not identify every red-bodied salmon as sockeye or every hooked-nose salmon as coho. Compare the features that remain visible. Spawning appearance also does not establish whether fishing for that species is permitted at that location.
Why identification matters before lifting a fish
Bag and possession limits are species-specific, and king salmon receive separate treatment from other salmon in ADF&G’s 2026 regulations. Emergency orders can change anything in the regulations booklet at short notice and supersede its provisions while in force. Verify with ADF&G using the official sport fishing regulations page and emergency order page before fishing.
ADF&G’s April 22, 2026 announcement, Emergency Order 2-F-H-04-26, closes all directed sport and commercial wild king salmon fisheries in Northern Cook Inlet for the 2026 season. That is a restriction on targeting kings, not merely on keeping them. Identifying a released fish correctly does not make directed fishing for a closed species lawful.
For Susitna drainage coho, Emergency Order 2-SS-2-47-26 requires immediate release without removal from the water, effective August 19 through December 31, 2026 unless superseded. For Little Susitna coho measuring 16 inches or longer, Emergency Order 2-SS-2-48-26 imposes that requirement over the same effective period. Verify with ADF&G on the official emergency order page for the applicable date and drainage.
Read the bag limits and gear rules guide before deciding what to keep. This independent guide is not legal advice.
Look-alikes, incidental fish and a landing checklist
Dolly Varden, rainbow trout and Arctic grayling are different species with their own rules. Catching one while fishing for salmon does not place it under salmon limits. If a fish does not fit the salmon identification features, do not force it into the closest-looking category.
ADF&G’s 2026 booklets require catch-and-release for rainbow/steelhead trout from April 15 through June 14 in the Little Susitna River and in Talkeetna drainage flowing waters. Verify with ADF&G on the official regulations and emergency order pages before fishing. Check the exact water, since neighboring drainages can have different provisions.
Use this checklist before the next fish reaches the bank:
- Read the rules for the drainage and intended species.
- Check emergency orders for retention and handling requirements.
- Have release tools ready and a place to handle the fish in the water.
- Compare tail spots, mouth, gumline and body markings.
- Release uncertain fish promptly without lifting them for photographs.
The river salmon fishing techniques guide explains how to connect tackle choices and landing practices with the fish being targeted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a black mouth enough to identify a king?
No. ADF&G’s April 2022 identification sheet describes both king and coho as having black mouths. King have black gumlines and spots on both tail lobes; coho have white gumlines and spots on the upper lobe only.
Can the time of year settle an uncertain identification?
No. ADF&G’s April 2022 run-timing sheet describes typical timing, not a guarantee of which species an individual fish belongs to. Check the fish’s physical features before making a retention decision.
What should happen if a fish cannot be identified?
Keep it in the water and release it promptly. Do not retain a fish on the assumption that it belongs to a species with an available limit.
Does releasing kings make targeting them acceptable?
No. ADF&G’s April 22, 2026 announcement closes directed wild king salmon fisheries in Northern Cook Inlet for the 2026 season. Verify with ADF&G on its official emergency order page before fishing; catch-and-release does not override a directed-fishing closure.