Chinook

Historically prized as the crème de la crème of the catch, for its rich, buttery flavor. The largest of salmon species, chinook is also the most expensive, largely because it's the least abundant salmon variety in North America. Flesh varies from white to pink to red. Also known as king salmon.

The Big Ones
Chinook are the largest Pacific salmon and can weigh over 100 lbs. But on average, Chinook hit the scales at about 30 lbs. They're long as well as heavy, in the range of 40 to 60 inches at maturity. Tipping the Scales The largest Chinook on record was a 126-pound specimen caught in a fish trap near Petersburg, Alaska in 1949. Sportfishers also caught a 97-pounder in the Kenai River in 1986. They are more abundant in North America than in Asia, and they can be found as far north as Alaska and as far south as Nevada. Their flesh pigmentation varies widely, from deep pinks and reds to creamy white. The lushest fresh salmon, king is the highest in fat and usually the most expensive, prized for its silken, melting texture, which is almost like smoked salmon.
Nicknames:king salmon, Quinnat salmon, spring salmon, and Tyee salmon.