Scientific name: Oncorhynchus keta
Other names: Calico Salmon, Dog Salmon.
Distribution: It is found in the North Pacific Ocean, in waters of Canada, United States and Russia; among salmon species, it is the most abundant in terms of biomass. It also lives in the Arctic Ocean.
Weight and measures: Adult chum can weigh up to 21 kg with a length of 1.1 mt. The record chum caught with a rod was 15 kg, at Edie Pass, British Columbia.
Habitat and life cycle: It is a semelparous and anadromous fish. Born in freshwater, afterwards they migrate to the Pacific Ocean, where they grow until they reach sexual maturity. When that happens, they return back to their native river where they only reproduce once and die. Its average range for reproductive migration is between 80 and 160 km. They live between 3 and 4 years on the coast of British Columbia, and 4 to 5 years on the coasts of Alaska and Russia.
Appearance: While they live in the ocean, this species is silvery bright as any other species of Pacific salmon. It distinguishes from others because of the absence of black spots on the body, dorsal and caudal fin. Other feature is its deeper body shape, reason why even though they have the same length than other salmons they are a little heavier. Males tend to be longer than females, as all the other species of this kind, and their front teeth of the lower jaw are long, thus earning the name of dog salmon.
As regards spawning, it takes place in small streams. Once they entered fresh water they undergo a process of rapid deterioration, with the occasional appearance of fungi in their bodies (typical white spots). Their coloration becomes darker, with white, red and black spots as streaks.
Diet: Juvenile chum eat zooplankton and insect and when they reach adulthood they eat smaller fish.
Sports: it is necessary to call its attention with appealing flies; one of its main characteristics is how it features powerful fights.
