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© 2010 Andrew's Charter
All rights reserved
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Major Lake Ontario Sport Fish
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Chinook Salmon
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The most
likely catch on an Andrews Salmon Fishing Charter is a chinook. The Chinook
salmon is blue-green on the back and top of the head with silvery sides and
white ventral surfaces. It has black spots on its tail and the upper half of
its body; its mouth is dark gray. Adult fish average 33 to 36 inches (840 to
910 mm), but may be up to 58 inches (1.47 meters) in length; they average 10 to
50 pounds (5 to 25 kg), but may reach 130 pounds (50 kg). The record catch for
Lake Ontario is over 46 pounds. Chinook is a species introduced from the west
coast of North America. More detailed information is available at the
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
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Coho Salmon
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Coho
salmon are the next most common salmon in Lake Ontario after Chinook. Coho
change their features as they mature. During their spawning phase, the jaws and
teeth of the coho become hooked, and they develop bright red sides, bluish
green heads and backs, dark bellies with dark spots on their back. Sexually
maturing coho develop a light pink or rose shading along the belly and the
males may show a slight arching of the back. Mature coho salmon have a
pronounced red skin color with darker backs and average 38 inches in length and
seven to 11 pounds in weight, although coho weighing up to 36 pounds have been
reported. Mature females may be darker than males, with both showing a
pronounced hook on the nose. More information on the coho salmon is available
here.
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Atlantic Salmon
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In
freshwater, Atlantic salmon have a dark gray to reddish brown colour. Adult
Atlantic salmon average 30 inches in length and typically weigh 7 to 12 pounds.
Their latin name means "the leaper," as they are able to leap up to 12 feet
over obstacles, if conditions are right. Juvenile salmon, residents in
freshwater streams in the basin, look so similar to trout that the species are
often confused. Coloration and size can be identical. Juvenile salmon have a
shorter mouth and a more forked tail than trout, but often these features can
be distinguished only upon careful inspection. Even though Atlantic salmon were
once common in Lake Ontario, they are now considered a rare catch. The last of
the original Atlantic Salmon native to Lake Ontario was caught in 1898. There
is more information on the Atlantic Salmon
here.
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Rainbow Trout
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After
chinook salmon, Rainbow Trout is the next most common catch on Andrews Salmon
Fishing Charters and in Lake Ontario in general. Rainbows range from 12 to 36
inches in length. The record catch of Rainbow trout for Lake Ontario is over 22
pound. Rainbow trout and steelhead are popular in Western cuisine and are both
wild caught and farmed for food. It has tender flesh and a mild, somewhat nutty
flavor. However, farmed trout and those taken from certain lakes have a
pronounced earthy flavor which many people find unappealing; many shoppers
therefore make it a point to ascertain the source of the fish before buying.
Rainbow trout is native to the Ontario region. Our largest was 20.9 lbs.
More information is available at
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
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Friends
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