Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Also known as King salmon, Spring salmon, Tyee, Winter, Quinnat, Blackmouth
Culinary Profile
Chinook salmon has a pronounced buttery, rich taste. They are the most highly prized salmon in the culinary world. White Chinook taste the same as the darker variety.
Oily, flaky, and meaty.
Chinook salmon is low in sodium and is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, niacin, vitamin B12, and selenium.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
When they’re in the ocean, Chinook salmon are blue-green on the back and top of the head with silvery sides and white bellies. They have black spots on the upper half of the body and on both lobes of the tail fin. Chinook salmon also have a black pigment along the gum line, thus the nickname "blackmouth." In fresh water, when they are about to spawn, Chinook change to olive brown, red, or purplish.
Biology
Chinook salmon are anadromous—they hatch in freshwater streams and rivers then migrate out to the saltwater environment of the ocean to feed and grow. Chinook salmon are the largest of the Pacific salmon, hence the name “king salmon.” They can grow as long as 4.9 feet and up to 129 pounds, but typical length and weight of mature fish are about 3 feet and 30 pounds.
Where They Live
Range In North America, Chinook salmon range from the Monterey Bay area of California to the Chukchi Sea area of Alaska. Habitat Chinook salmon spend their early life growing and feeding in freshwater streams, estuaries, and associated wetlands. They spend the remainder of their life foraging in the ocean before returning to the streams and tributaries where they were born to spawn.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Fresh mainly in the summer and early fall, though the timing varies by area and fishery. Frozen year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Alaska to California.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: In 2023, U.S. commercial landings of Chinook salmon totaled 7.6 million pounds and were valued at $31 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Most of the Chinook in the U.S. market comes from U.S. and Canadian fisheries. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Chinook salmon are harvested using a variety of gear types. Troll vessels catch salmon by "trolling" their lines with bait or lures through groups of feeding fish. To retrieve hooked fish, the lines are wound on spools by hand or hydraulically, and the fish are pulled aboard when alongside the vessel. The troll fishery produces low-volume, high-quality product.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 104 Species
Where Chinook Salmon ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omega-3 EPA | 1008 mg | 1 / 104 | 99% |
| Phosphorus | 289 mg | 3 / 111 | 97% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 944 mg | 6 / 104 | 94% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Protein | 19.93 g | 35 / 111 | 68% |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.3 µg | 68 / 106 | 36% |
| Zinc | 0.44 mg | 70 / 111 | 37% |
| Iron | 0.25 mg | 95 / 111 | 14% |
Other Species in Genus Oncorhynchus
4 close biological relatives of Chinook Salmon profiled in this catalogue — typically sharing similar anatomy, depth range, and fishery management.
| Species | Scientific name | Protein (g/100 g) | Omega-3 DHA (mg) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chum Salmon | Oncorhynchus keta | 20.14 | 394 | Smart Choice |
| Coho Salmon | Oncorhynchus kisutch | 21.62 | 656 | Smart Choice |
| Pink Salmon | Oncorhynchus gorbuscha | 20.5 | 333 | Smart Choice |
| Sockeye Salmon | Oncorhynchus nerka | 22.25 | 471 | Smart Choice |
Other Alaska Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Chinook Salmon.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Bocaccio
Sebastes paucispinis
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Canary Rockfish
Sebastes pinniger
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
Chum salmon has a lower oil content than other wild salmon, so it has a relatively mild flavor.
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Smaller coho have a delicate flavor. Fillets from larger fish have a mild taste.
Dover Sole
Microstomus pacificus
Mild and sweet.
English Sole
Parophrys vetulus
Mild taste with a slight shellfish flavor.
Flathead Sole
Hippoglossoides elassodon
Mild and delicate flavor.
Geoduck
Panopea generosa
The neck is tough and crunchy, while the belly meat is tender and sweet.
Pacific Cod
Gadus macrocephalus
Pacific cod is a mild-tasting fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chinook Salmon a lean fish or a rich one?
At 179 kcal per 100 g raw, Chinook Salmon counts as rich on the fattiness spectrum — useful context when deciding cooking method (lean species suit poaching; rich species hold up to high-heat sear).
How much selenium does Chinook Salmon provide?
A 100 g raw serving of Chinook Salmon carries 36.5 µg of selenium, about 66% of the 55 µg daily value for adults.
How much Chinook Salmon is caught commercially?
Commercial fishery: In 2023, U.S. commercial landings of Chinook salmon totaled 7.6 million pounds and were valued at $31 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Most of the Chinook in the U.S. market comes from U.S. and Canadian fisheries. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Chinook salmon are harvested using a variety of gear types.
How does Chinook Salmon reproduce?
Chinook salmon are anadromous—they hatch in freshwater streams and rivers then migrate out to the saltwater environment of the ocean to feed and grow. Chinook salmon are the largest of the Pacific salmon, hence the name “king salmon.” They can grow as long as 4.9 feet and up to 129 pounds, but typical length and weight of mature fish are about 3 feet and 30 pounds.
How much protein is in 100 g of Chinook Salmon?
A 100 g raw serving of Chinook Salmon provides 19.93 g of protein — roughly 40% of the FDA 50 g daily value.
Sustainability Story
Although some Chinook populations are below target levels, U.S. wild-caught Chinook salmon is a smart seafood choice because they are sustainably managed with careful consideration given to impacts on endangered and threatened species.
Stock Structure
There are numerous stocks of Chinook salmon. Alaska: In Alaska, the status of Chinook salmon stocks varies. Some stocks are in decline, while others are steady or increasing. None are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) . According to the 2022 stock assessment, the Eastern North Pacific Far North Migrating stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage Chinook salmon on the West Coast. Managed under the Pacific Coast Salmon Plan : Every year, the council reviews reports of the previous fishing season and current estimates of salmon abundance. Using this information, they make recommendations for management of the upcoming fishing season.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 19 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.