My World Tuesday #47 - The Pinks Are In

Pink salmon are returning to spawn in our local rivers including the Stillaguamish, Skagit and Snohomish Rivers. The males develop a large hump during their spawning run which gives the pinks the nickname of "humpies". Pinks are so named because of the pink color of their flesh. They are also the smallest of the true salmons with the average size being 3-5 lbs although some can get up to around 12 lbs. They have a two-year life-cycle before returning to spawn and in Washington, the spawning runs only occur in odd-numbered years.

Many people consider pinks to be less desirable for eating. We generally will eat fresh pink salmon on the day it is caught and then smoke any remaining filets. Karl makes outstanding smoked salmon. This year we might try to can some of the smoked fish rather than freezing it. We've never done it before but have been told it is very good packaged that way.

This year looks to be a good run for the pinks. We've had some years in the past where the pink season didn't open due to low numbers of returning salmon.

I drove up to Mount Vernon along the Skagit River to check out the fishing action. There was plenty of activity and I even saw a pink being hauled into one of the many boats on the river.

Ready - Aim - Launch!

One Lucky Fisherman

Fishing for pinks in can be a challenge since you are required to use barb-less hooks and live bait is not permitted. Buzz bombs and pink jigs are popular gear for catching the pinks. If you enlarge the picture above, you can see a pink jig in the fish's mouth.

Oh so close, only to lose it

Lined Up Along the Skagit

The Stillaguamish River will open for pink salmon fishing on September 1st. Karl already has the day off from work to go fishing.

"Leaper" by Tom Jay (2003)
Sculpture of Salmon (Not a Pink) in Mount Vernon's Edgewater Park to honor the salmon that spawn in the Skagit River

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