Having a hard time identifying carp? You are not the only one! With over a hundred carp species, it can be tricky to know which one is which. Luckily for us, scientists and avid enthusiasts have done a good job at identifying them! Here are the different types of carp which are well adapted to local conditions and water temperatures.

Common Carp

Common carp are, as their name suggests, the most common and well-known of the fish species. They have no natural predators, so they can grow to be very large. They are typically brown or black in color, with some varieties having a greenish hue.

Fun fact: Common carp were originally introduced into Europe by French monks in the Middle Ages, but they quickly escaped into the wild. Since then, they have spread around the world on their own through accidental introductions into new waters.

Appearance

Common carp can grow up to 3 feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kg). They have a long, torpedo-shaped body with a large head and mouth that contain rows of sharp teeth. They are grayish-green on top with a lighter belly that has dark spots or blotches.

Behavior

Common carp are omnivorous fish that feed on plants, insects, and other small invertebrates. They also eat their own eggs. Common carp are bottom-feeders that live in lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers with sandy bottoms. They generally spawn between March and June when water temperatures reach 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit). Common carp usually spawn over gravel or rocks near shorelines or in shallow areas.

Location

Common carp are the most widely distributed types of carp in the world. They can be found in lakes, rivers, and streams throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. These fish are often referred to as European carp or Eurasian carp, but they actually have their origins in Mongolia.

They are often found in large schools during spawning season but tend to be solitary during other times of the year. They prefer shallow waters with vegetation cover for protection from predators such as pike or perch.

Mirror Carp

The mirror carp is a species of large freshwater fish in the Cyprinidae family. They are an extremely popular sport fish.

Appearance

As its name suggests, it has “mirror” scales scattered on its body. Unlike the Common carp, the Mirror cap includes a rounder and fuller body. If you are wondering why the Mirror carp looks almost identical to the Common carp, it’s because they are a mutation!

Behavior

Mirror carp are opportunistic feeders. They feed on algae, insects, small crustaceans, mollusks, and plant matter, and even smaller fish.

Location

Mirror carp are native to Asia, with their range extending from the Caspian Sea to Lake Balkhash. You can also find these fish in North America and Europe.

Leather Carp

You’ll find the Leather carp in the Riverlands, and you can easily identify them thanks to their leathery texture.

Appearance

Leather carp is one of the rarest types of carp. It has a distinctive leathery-looking skin covered with scales that overlap like shingles on a roof. The scales can be an off-white or gold color. Leather carp have long dorsal fins that run along the length of their backs from head to tail. Their mouths are small, and they have very few visible teeth. They also have eyes often red or yellowish in color with black pupils. Their bodies are usually silver or gray in color with darker spots on them (or sometimes just dark overall). They can grow up to 60 inches long and weigh up to 100 pounds.

Behavior

Leather carp are not normally aggressive towards other fish, but they will attack if they feel threatened. They also eat other species of fish that are too small to defend themselves against them. This makes them unsuitable for tank mates with small species of fish like guppies and tetras. Leather carp are omnivorous, so they will eat both meaty foods and plant-based foods like algae wafers or flakes.

Location

You can find Leather carp in most of Europe’s rivers and some parts of Asia and North America. The most famous lake you can find a Leather carp is Lake Seen in China. Lake Elbe in Germany is also an excellent spot for this type of carp.

Unfortunately, due to the breed’s vulnerability to diseases, slow growth, and low productivity rate, you’ll find most Leather carp in fisheries.

Linear Carp

Like Leather carp, the Linear carp is rare to find in the wild and mostly kept in commercial fisheries.

Appearance

The Linear carp is one of the most unique species of carp. It has scales along the lateral lines, reduced fins, a low number of gill rakers, and a scale pattern similar to a Mirror carp.

Behavior

Like other types of carp, Linear carp pretty much eats anything. They feed on insects, plants, and algae, and will often feed on plankton during their younger years before moving on to larger prey. They also eat organic matter.

Location

You will find a Linear carp in shallow waters, usually 3-12 ft. Unfortunately, catching Linear carp out in the wild is almost impossible. Like the Leather carp, it is prone to diseases and doesn’t adapt well to cold temperatures.

Bighead Carp

The Bighead carp or Hypophthalmichthys nobilis is one of the most invasive species in the world. It consumes large amounts of food, outcompetes native fish, and can disrupt aquatic ecosystems.

Appearance

The Bighead Carp is a large fish with a long body and thick tail. It has a large head with a small mouth and eyes, and a long dorsal fin. The scales on the fish are rough and serrated. The color of the Bighead Carp can be grey to bronze-gold in color, with black spots or blotches on the body.

Behavior

Bighead carp spawn during the spring months (March to May) in open water areas like ponds or lakes. Spawning occurs when water temperatures reach between 12-18 degrees Celsius. Bighead carp are filter feeders, meaning they use their gill rakers to strain food particles from the water column. They feed on algae and bottom-dwelling organisms such as worms, insect larvae, and crustaceans.

Location

The Bighead Carp is a member of the Cyprinidae family. It is native to Eastern Asia but has been introduced to many other parts of the world, including North America, South America, Africa, and Australia.

Black Carp

The Black Carp is another invasive species in the United States. It can eat 20% of its body weight per day, impacting mussels and snail populations.

Appearance

Black Carp is one of the largest types of carp in the world, with some specimens reaching up to 1 meter long. They have large scales and a large mouth with sharp teeth, which they use to feed on mollusks, algae, and other aquatic plants.

Behavior

Black carp are herbivores and feed on vegetation near the water surface. They live in large schools. During winter, they form dense schools near the bottom of deep rivers. Spawning occurs from May to June. The eggs usually stick to the substrate or plants. The larvae hatch after 2–3 days, depending on water temperature, and begin feeding on planktonic organisms in about ten days.

Location

Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) is a species of freshwater fish in the cyprinid family, native to East Asia. The United States imported Black carp during the 1970s. By the 90s, fish farms used this type of carp to control the pond snail population. Unfortunately, there were some escapees during a 1994 flash flood. Since then, the species has been spotted in Louisiana, Ohio River, Arkansas, Tennessee.

Ghost Carp

The Ghost carp or Ghost koi is a hybrid type of carp, which resulted from mating a Common carp with a Koi carp.

Appearance

Ghost carp are white-colored fish with black spots on their body. They have very small scales, which make them hard to see at night when they feed in shallow water near the surface of lakes and rivers. Ghost carps can grow up to 1 meter long but are usually less than half this size when caught by anglers. Their main predators are alligators, otters, and large catfish, but they also eat smaller fish such as minnows, crawfish, insects, and crayfish.

Behavior

Like other carp, they are omnivorous and will eat insects, plants, and plankton.

Location

It’s also impossible to find a Ghost carp in the wild. They are much common in fisheries and private ponds. If you want to try catching Ghost carp, look for an area with shallow, calm, slow-moving waters like lakes and swamps.

Koi Carp

Koi carp are one of the most sought-after fish in the world. The Japanese and ChineseKoi Carp have bred Kois for centuries due to this type of carp’s ornamental value and decorative use in ponds.

Appearance

The Koi Carp is a large species of fish that can reach up to 2 meters (6 ft 7 in) long and weigh 45 kilograms (99 lb). They are identifiable by their deep bodies, large scales, and long flowing fins. The most popular coloring for koi carp is black with white markings, but there are other colors available, including red, orange, blue, and yellow-green. The fish can be bred to have two or three colors at once, such as red and white or black and yellow-green.

Behavior

Koi carp are carnivorous fish that prefer live food such as worms and insects. However, they can also eat fish. The spawning season for Koi Carp takes place during spring or summer when the water temperature rises above 20°C (68°F).

The female Koi releases her eggs into the water. A male Koi will then fertilize it and guard the eggs until they hatch about three weeks later. The fry stay in their parent’s territory for several months until they grow big enough to fend for themselves or start migrating into other areas in search of food sources.

Location

Koi carp are usually kept in ponds. The majority of these fish come from Japan and China, although there are some breeders in Europe and the United States as well. The most popular Koi carp varieties include Shiro Utsuri and Koigui.

Silver Carp

Silver carp are a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae found in Asia. They have been introduced to many other areas of the world, including Australia and North America, often as food fish. However, they have also become invasive species in some locations where they outcompete native fish and are damaging to local ecosystems.

Appearance

Silver carp has a silver-gray body with a forked tail, a blunt head, and two barbels (whiskers) on the chin. The scales on its body are large, cycloid, and metallic. Silver Carp is capable of growing up to 2 meters in length and is considered one of the largest freshwater fishes in the world.

Behavior

Silver carp are omnivorous fish that eat just about anything they can find, including insects, algae, and plants. They also feed on other fish, including smaller carp species such as the Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idella). Each year there are several massive gatherings of these fish where they meet up to spawn at certain locations in rivers and lakes throughout their range.

Silver carp are very aggressive at breeding time and will actually jump out of the water when spawning. This is why they were named silver carp because it resembles catching a piece of silver foil when it jumps out of the water during mating season (November-December).

Location

Silver carp can be found in many parts of the world, including China, India, Russia, and North America. In North America, they were introduced into the Mississippi River in the 70s to control algae growth but have since migrated into other areas due to their ability to adapt to new environments.

Grass Carp

Grass carp, also known as the White Amur or Black Amur, is a species of freshwater fish in the Cyprinidae family. It is native to Asia, where it occurs in China (including the Yangtze River), Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

Appearance

Grass carp can reach lengths of up to 1 meter (3 feet) long and weigh up to 40 kilograms (88 pounds). They have an olive-green back, a white belly, silvery sides, and a distinctive black band near their tail fins. Their mouths are wide with very small teeth located on their tongue instead of their jaws like most other types of fish.

Behavior

Grass carp is the only carp among different types of carp that uses its long snouts to root out aquatic vegetation. They also filter food particles from the water using gill rakers. Male Grass carp build nests by creating a depression in the substrate with their mouths. The females deposit their eggs into these nests, where they are fertilized by the males. The incubation period is about two weeks long, at which point the young will hatch out of the sacs. The young Grass carp remain in these nests for another two weeks before leaving them to fend for themselves in the wild.

Location

Grass carp are native to Asia. They have been introduced throughout the world as food fish. Some of the countries where they have been introduced include Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Grass Carp were first introduced in the United States in the 60s for aquaculture purposes. The grass carp has also been used by some people as a method of controlling aquatic weeds because of its ability to eat large amounts of vegetation per day.

Crucian Carp

The Crucian carp is an omnivore that primarily eats algae but also consumes other aquatic plants as well as small invertebrates like worms or insect larvae when they become available in their habitat. They can also eat plant matter such as seeds or buds if they find them while feeding on algae blooms on the surface.

Appearance

The Crucian carp has a triangular-shaped body, and its scales are quite small. They have a silver color on their back, but they have a golden belly. The Crucian carp has a round mouth with many teeth, which is used to eat algae and plants in lakes and rivers. It also has two dorsal fins, two pectoral fins, and two pelvic fins. The Crucian carp can grow up to 20 inches long, but it can be as small as 12 inches long too. Its lifespan can be up to 40 years old if it lives in good conditions.

Behavior

The Crucian carp is omnivorous and eats both plant material and animal matter. It feeds on algae, snails, insects, worms, and even small fish (if they can catch them). The Crucian carp spawns during the summer months when water temperatures reach around 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius). Females lay eggs in shallow waters where there is plenty of oxygen available for their young hatchlings to survive after birth. The female lays between 200-1000 eggs at one time, depending upon her size and age. These eggs hatch within 48 hours of being laid by the female.

Location

Crucian carp is a common and widespread carp species found throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa. They have also been introduced to Australia, South Africa, and the USA. They are often confused with the Common carp due to their similar appearance. However, Crucian carp can be distinguished by the fact that they have fewer scales on their upper body and lack barbels on their lower lip (which is used for finding food). Crucian carp are also more tolerant of cold water than Common carp.

F1 Carp

F1 carp are hybrids between wild and farmed carp. You can find them in lakes, rivers, and ponds. They have a rounded body shape and have no scales on their back. They can also grow to 40lb or more.

Appearance

The F1 carp is a hybrid between a common carp and a mirror carp. The color of their scales ranges from silver to orange to yellow, with black spots covering their bodies. The fins are long and pointed, which makes them easy to identify as F1 carp.

Behavior

They spawn at different times, depending on the location and environment. In the wild, they spawn in the spring and early summer when water temperatures reach 68 degrees F or above. In captivity, they may spawn at any time but typically do so in the spring or early summer months when water temperatures reach 68 degrees F or above.

An F1 carp has a wide variety of foods that it eats, such as earthworms, snails, insects, small fish, and plant matter (leaves). An F1 carp hunts using sight rather than scent, so they will wait until their prey comes close enough before striking at them.

Location

The F1 carp is one of the most popular species kept as pets by aquarium enthusiasts due to its striking colors and behavior. They can be found in countries all over the world, including Japan and China, where they are often used for food purposes as well as being kept as pets.

Summing up

The average person doesn’t know the difference between a cyprinid and a catfish, let alone any other type of fish. If you’re one of these people, have no fear. Hopefully, this article has given you some insight into the different types of carp that exist in the world today.

There are more than 100 different types of grunt fish. So, if you are saltwater fishing for the first time, you’ll most likely have a hard time properly identifying each one. Each fish has different regulations too.

Before you pay an expensive fine, here is our complete guide to the most common types of grunt you’ll come across during your fishing trips.

Fish Profile: Grunt Fish Overview

Grunt fish have a unique shape that makes them appear front-heavy due to their ability to make grunting noises. They do so by grinding their teeth to produce the sound. Their bodies are laterally compressed, helping them easily swim through tight spaces.

There are many subspecies of grunt fish that include White grunt fish, Blue-striped, French, Key west grunt, Yellow grunt fish, and more. Some have blue stripes, while others have, yellow, silver, and copper scales. Their colorful scales transition to white on the underbelly.

This carnivorous fish stalks seagrass beds during the night foraging for their prey. The grunt fish diet consists of crustaceans, occasional small fish, and bivalves. 

During the day, they find refuge around coral reefs as protection against predators. You can find them around structures like docks, coral reefs, and mangroves in brackish water. 

Types of Grunt Fish

There might be 150 different types of grunt fish, but fishermen target only a few – either for bait or fishkeeping. Here are the most common types of grunt fish you’ll find in the ocean. Some of them are safe to eat, while others are poisonous.

White Grunt

Scientific Name	Haemulon plumierii
Other Names	Common grunt, redmouth
Family	Haemulidae
Appearance	Silver-gray body with blue and yellow stripes on head and body
Ave. weight & length	Most are 1.5 pounds and 15 inches in length
Habitat	Shoreline to reef edges, any irregular bottoms from depths of 80 to 115 feet. Juvenile white grunts are common in seagrass beds.
Range	Virginia to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Bermuda
Game Quality	Really Good
Conservation Status	Least concern

The White grunt fish is an underappreciated and overlooked species when it comes to sport fishing, and consumption. Their meat is of good quality and can be found fresh in markets. It is also a key part of a historic Floridian dish “Grits and Grunts.” 

Anglers don’t normally target them but are unintentionally caught when targeting other species such as snappers, groupers, and triggerfish. They’re not the largest fish in the sea or brackish-water at an average of 15 inches in length and 1.5 pounds. 

However, it is not unheard-of catching ones of unusually large sizes from 4 to 6 pounds. They are fun to catch, and charter boats will use manual or electric reels over the outer reef edge to catch white grunts. 

This species has earned the nickname redmouth and ruby red lips from the vibrant red coloring on the inside of its mouth. The White grunt is named such for its silvery sides and its ability to make grunting sounds by grinding its teeth. 

If you are curious about the taste of a White grunt, its white, flaky flesh has a mild flavor, which some say is like black bass.

Blue-Striped Grunt

Scientific Name	Haemulon sciurus
Other Names	Boar grunt, golden grunt, humpback grunt
Family	Haemulidae
Appearance	Bright blue stripes from head to tail, yellow body
Ave. weight & length	10 to 14 inches and 1.7 pounds
Habitat	Mangroves, reefs, and coral and rocky substrates at depths to 98 feet.
Range	South Carolina to Brazil, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean
Game Quality	Good
Conservation Status	Least concern

The Blue-Striped Grunt fish is a beautifully colored fish with its golden yellow body and bright blue stripes. They sport the same bright red mouth as the French and White grunt as well. It is because of this that this species is fished primarily for aquarium usage. 

They are not a typical sportfish and are only sought for fish tank purposes or being sold fresh in markets for consumption. 

They stay on the smaller side for size with their maximum length being 18 inches. These grunts are carnivores and will feed on smaller prey, including invertebrates, shrimp, small fish, and bivalves in areas of seagrass and mangrove habitats.

Expert Tip: Grunt fish are sensitive to line, so using a lead weight to carry your bait all the way to the bottom is ideal for getting them to bite. Keep in mind that you should let the line move freely through the weight.

French Grunt

Scientific Name	Haemulon flavolineatum
Other Names	Banana grunt, gold laced grunt, open-mouthed grunt
Family	Haemulidae
Appearance	White to blueish or yellow with vibrant yellow to orange stripes
Ave. weight & length	0.5 to 1 pound, and 6 to 8 inches
Habitat	Coral reefs, ledges, seagrass beds in bays and lagoons. Found in shallow waters to depths of 197 feet
Range	South Carolina, Northern Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Bermuda, Central America to West Indies
Game Quality	Excellent
Conservation Status	Not yet evaluated

When it comes to catching saltwater panfish, the French grunt fish is highly popular because of their small size and bright bronze or yellow and blue color. 

Like other grunt fish, they’re active at night when feeding and school together during the day. French grunts also typically feed on clams, krill, shrimp, and small hermit crabs, which is good to keep in mind because using their natural prey as bait will give you the most success at catching them. 

Expert Tip: When fishing for French grunts, use their natural prey as baits. You should also opt for an extra-light tackle as they are sensitive to the line and small. 

They are also good to eat and can be found fresh in markets, but they are also extremely popular in aquariums and saltwater fish tanks.

Pigfish

Scientific Name	Orthopristis chrysoptera
Other Names	Piggy perch, piggy, grunt
Family	Haemulidae
Appearance	Mottled brown or gray body with irregular vertical bars and small orange or blue markings
Ave. weight & length	2 pounds and 6 to 12 inches
Habitat	Shallow coastal waters with sand or mud bottoms, grassy beds and edges of channels
Range	As far north as Cape Cod, most common south of Chesapeake Bay
Game Quality	Excellent
Conservation Status	Least concern

The Pigfish are in the same family as other grunt fish, but they look a little different. They’re called pigfish because they squeal like a pig when you catch them.  

They come in at a smaller size on average between 6 and 12 inches, but they can get up to lengths of 19 inches and weigh from 1 to 5 pounds. 

Expert tip: You can use Pigfish as baitfish to catch larger fish. 

Much like grunts in their family, you can find Pigfish around structures like seagrass beds, docks, piers, and drop-offs. It is best to use a two-hook bottom rig with peeled shrimp or bloodworms to catch them. However, you can also catch them using plugs or small jigs too.

Black Margate

Scientific Name	Anisotremus surinamensis
Other Names	Piggy perch, piggy, grunt
Family	Haemulidae
Appearance	Silvery sides with black tipped scales, and black fins and tail
Ave. weight & length	12 to 17 inches and 3 to 8 pounds
Habitat	Steep sloping bottoms, rocky substrates or rocky reefs at depths to 65 feet
Range	Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Bahamas, and Caribbean
Game Quality	Very good
Conservation Status	Not yet evaluated

Anglers commonly target the Black Margate during the spawning season in spring. The best way to catch them is drift fishing using baits like fish, squid, or cut clams. This method is effective because they will gather in shallower water and in large schools than where they are usually found, which is 65 ft down steep sloping bottoms. 

This species is one of the largest fish in the grunt fish family – it reaches up to 30 inches in length and 13 pounds. This makes them a lot of fun to catch, and you have enough meat to make fillets!

Tomtate

Scientific Name	Haemulon aurolineatum
Other Names	Brown grunt
Family	Haemulidae
Appearance	Gray to tan back, brown or yellowish stripe from head to tail, bright orange mouth, dark spot at base of tail
Ave. weight & length	1 pound and get 5.5 to 10 inches
Habitat	Coral and rock reefs at depths of 100 feet
Range	North Carolina to Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Brazil
Game Quality	Good
Conservation Status	Least concern

Tomtate are the smallest of the grunt fish family, making them excellent panfish for anglers to catch and use as bait. You’ll want to use light tackle and small hooks baited with cut shrimp, squid, or fish. 

Tomtate is oftentimes confused with blue-striped, white, and French juvenile grunt fish. All of which eventually lose the dark spot marking at the base of the tail, while the tomtate does not. They also feature the same bright red coloring inside of the mouth and previously listed grunts as well. 

They function as great indicators of larger predatory fish being nearby as they scatter in their presence

Porkfish

Scientific Name	Anisotremus virginicus
Other Names	Paragrate grunt, Atlantic porkfish
Family	Haemulidae
Appearance	Dark bar from top of head to mouth, yellow and silver stripes, bright yellow fins
Ave. weight & length	4 ounces to 2 pounds and 6 to 15 inches
Habitat	Reefs and rocky bottoms at depths of 6 to 65 feet
Range	Florida to Brazil, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean to Bahamas, and Bermuda
Game Quality	Very good
Conservation Status	Not listed as endangered or vulnerable

Porkfish are another species that is common in aquariums and fish tanks, but they are also popular sportfish as well. If you want to catch Porkfish, you should use a light tackle, natural baits like shrimp or worms and jigging. 

Expert Tip: If you are fishing for White grunt fish, don’t be surprised to reel in Porkfish too! These two types of grunt often swim together. 

Similar to all other grunts, they are active at night, preying on crustaceans, worms, and mollusks. They also travel in large schools during the day to protect themselves from predation. 

Alert: They are nt ideal for eating as they have been linked to ciguatera poisoning that causes nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and more. They are better for catching and releasing or observing while on diving excursions.

Grunt Fish FAQs

Is a Grunt Fish a Snapper?

Grunt fish are similar to and often mistaken for snappers and vice versa, but they are separate species. Grunts lack the canine teeth that snappers are known for. They are also much smaller and feature a deeper notch in their tail fin. Besides grunt fish also make the sound they’re named after while snappers do not. 

Why Are Grunts Called Grunt Fish?

Grunts are called such because all species make a sound much like grunting. They do this by grinding their pharyngeal teeth together. The sound is actually amplified because their swim bladder is kept taut. Pigfish make a very similar sound which makes it easy for people to confuse the two. 

Is Grunt Fish Good to Eat?

Most grunt fish are good to eat and are sold in markets. In fact, white grunt fish are used in a historic Floridian meal called “grits and grunts.” Even though many are good to eat, it is important to do your research because there are toxic species in the grunt fish family. 

It’s a Wrap, Grunts!

Properly identifying the species, you are fishing for is the most important thing for an angler to do. There are different regulations and restrictions on each one, especially if you are catching them to eat. The guide we’ve provided above should help you to have a better understanding and knowledge of some of the most popular grunts.

It’s time for a quiz: How many types of salmon are there? If you’re like most people, you probably instantly think of Alaska, and that salmon is delicious. Well, yes, both of those are true—however, there is more than just “Alaska salmon.” Today, we are going to learn about all the different types of salmon, so you’ll want to stay glued to your seat for this one.

Different Types of Salmon Comparison Table

	King Salmon	Red Salmon	Chum Salmon	Coho Salmon	Pink Salmon	Atlantic Salmon
Scientific Name	Oncorhynchus tshawytscha	Oncorhynchus nerka	Oncorhynchus keta	Oncorhynchus kisutch	Oncorhynchus gorbuscha	Salmo salar
Other names	King salmon, spring salmon, quinnat, or tyee	Sockeye Salmon	Keta salmon, dog salmon, calico salmon, chub	Silver salmon, medium red salmon, hoopid salmon, white salmon	Humpback salmon, humpy, gorbusch, haddo, holia	Sea run salmon, kelts, black salmon
Salmon Type	Pacific	Pacific	Pacific	Pacific	Pacific	Atlantic
Appearance	Black pigment along the gumline. Dark spots on its upper and lower halves, largest variety of Pacific salmon	Green-blue top, red body	Greenish-blue along the back, second-largest variety of Pacific salmon	Dark metallic blue backs	Silversides with blueish green back. Smallest pacific salmon in North America	Bronze-colored with dark vertical bars and dark spots on gill covers
Ave. Length & Weight	36 inches, 30 pounds	18-31 inches, 4-15 pounds	23.6 in, 8-15 pounds	24-30 inches, 8-12 pounds	20-25 inches, 3.5-5 pounds	28-30 inches, 8-12 pounds
Distribution	North Pacific	Klamath River in Oregon, Southern California to Point Hope in northwestern Alaska	North Pacific Ocean, British Columbia in Canada, Alaska, California	Alaska, West Coast	Coast of Alaska	North America, Iceland, Greenland, Europe, and Russia

Fun fact: Many types of salmon change their color when they are in the spawning phase. They do this to attract possible mates.

Types of Pacific Salmon

Did you know there are 5 types of salmon living in the Pacific Ocean near the United States? If you are in Asia, you have two types of Pacific salmon that you can fish for.

Chinook / King Salmon

Like many varieties of salmon, Chinook salmon are anadromous. This means that they are born in freshwater and later migrate to saltwater. Once they are approximately 3-4 years old, they migrate back to the rivers they came from to spawn. This journey is exhausting for the salmon, and 100% die within a few days or weeks from spawning.

Additionally, Chinook salmon change colors throughout their life cycle. Juvenile chinooks have something called parr marks on both sides of their body. This feature allows them to camouflage themselves in freshwater. Interestingly, once they make it out to the ocean, their back turns dark, and their belly becomes lighter.

What’s even more impressive is that once this variety of salmon returns to the freshwater rivers to spawn, they become a brown or red color. The males also develop larger teeth and a humped back.

Fun fact: Many food connoisseurs consider the King salmon the best tasting type of salmon because it is large, has a high-fat content, and is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.  

Red Salmon / Sockeye Salmon

Red salmon are also anadromous. In June or July, this variety returns to freshwater (rivers, streams, or lakes). They live their adult lives in the ocean, only returning to the river to spawn.

During spawning, female Red salmon use their tails to dig a hole (experts call it a redd). This hole is where they will lay their 2,000-5,000 eggs. Unfortunately, they ultimately die within weeks of spawning.

Chum Salmon

Chum salmon are the second-largest variety of Pacific salmon.

Once they are born, they move fast to the ocean’s salty water. Unlike Red salmon, they spawn from late summer to March, though the peak is early winter.

Chum salmon have a varied diet, eating everything from other fish to squid or copepods. This type of salmon has a vast range and lives from the coast of Oregon to the coast of Alaska. In 2019, the largest harvest of chum salmon was in Alaska. The harvest was approximately 113 million pounds!

Fun fact: Chum salmons have lean flesh with a lower fat content than other types of salmon. However, their roe is commonly used in sushi. 

Coho Salmon / Silver Salmon

Like many varieties of salmon, Coho salmon begin their life buried in gravel. Once they hatch, they eat plankton and various insects. When they become adults and live in saltwater, their diet changes. They often eat anchovies, herring, or sardines. Like Chinook, they also change color. A Coho salmon in the spawning phase trades in its silver-blue scales to a deep reddish hue.

Pink Salmon

Pink salmon have several unique features compared to other types of salmon. They have a two-year lifecycle and only return to spawn during their respective year.

Pink salmon is one of the smallest varieties of Pacific salmon. They usually weigh from 3.5-5 pounds. Although they are the smallest, they are the fastest-growing out of the bunch – they increase in size once they reach saltwater.

Pink salmon are mostly in fisheries or fish farms, but you can also find this type of salmon along the Washington and Oregon coasts.  

Masu Salmon

The Masu salmon is unique because it lives in the Asian part of the Pacific Ocean. There is a high concentration of Masu salmon on Hokkaido Island in Japan. The species has a great refuge there, as the island is home to 32 conservation areas. Unlike other species of salmon, Masu salmon do not migrate long distances.

Amago Salmon

This variety of salmon has visible red spots on its body, making it unique compared to other types of salmon. It is often considered a subspecies of the Masu salmon. Some argue that they should both be the same species.

These Asian Pacific salmon are also anadromous like the other salmon species. They live most of their adult lives in saltwater. They return to freshwater rivers and streams to spawn. However, the Amago salmon is often used in aquaculture, lives in western Japan, and can grow up to 20 inches long.

Types of Atlantic Salmon

While there are five types of Pacific salmon, there is only one Atlantic salmon. They are usually found in the New England or mid-Atlantic area. There are also populations in Europe. In North America, the Atlantic salmon is a protected species. In fact, the last Atlantic salmon fishery closed in 1948.

Fish Facts: What You’ve Learned

There are other types of salmon than the popular Pink salmon or King salmon. You have Chum salmon, Atlantic salmon, Coho salmon, and more! Let us know in the comments if any of these types of salmon caught your attention. Happy Fishing!