Coho Salmon
Coho Stages
Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch):
Coho salmon spawn from October to December. Harder to spot than pink salmon, coho have bluish-green backs. Male coho turn red when they are ready to spawn, while females are more dull in color. Young coho salmon remain in the watershed for 1-2 years after hatching in spring. In the early 1980’s, there was a large collapse in the coho population in the Puntledge River. In an effort to rebuild the stocks, the Puntledge River hatchery facility was established by DFO. To get them started, they used adult Morrison Creek coho for brood stock (“brood stock” means that eggs and sperm from these adult fish were used to produce fry in the hatchery). Most coho salmon are about three years old when they spawn and complete their life cycle.