Pink salmon
Know your fish
Pink salmon
Also calledhumpy
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Typical size:40–60 cm, 1.5–3 kg
- Large oval black spots on back and both tail lobes
- Very small scales; males grow a hump in fresh water
- Smallest Pacific salmon; runs in odd years in southern BC
Looks like: Chinook has smaller spots and black gums; pink's spots are big ovals and the scales feel tiny.
0255075100125150
cm
OK to keep
- Minimum 30 cm; 4/day in most Areas
- Non-retention in Areas 23 and 24
Must release
- Under 30 cm
- Anywhere listed non-retention
Best months
July, August, September
Fishing licences across Canada
Rig to tie
- 1Main line 20–30 lb braid
- 2Swivel Size 4 barrel swivel
- 3Leader 20 lb mono, 45 cm
- 4Buzz Bomb / Zzinger 2.5–3.5 in, sliding free on the leader. White or pearl for chinook, pink for coho and pinks
- 5Bead and hook Plastic bead then a single 2/0 barbless siwash (barbless is the law for salmon)
How to tie and fish it
Tie it:Thread leader through the Buzz Bomb, then the bead, then tie the hook. The lure slides up the leader when a fish takes so it cannot lever the hook out.
Fish it:Cast long, count down to depth, then lift the rod sharply and let the lure flutter down on a slack line. Most hits are on the fall. Fish the tide change in the first and last hour of light.