There is NO Fishing permitted on Mosquito Creek, but if you're lucky enough you may come across a salmon that has washed up on shore in November or December.
Historically, Mosquito Creek was home to four species of salmon, now there are only three species that return to the creek.
The three salmon you can find returning to the creek are Coho, Chum & Pink* - Pink salmon return only on odd years.
Additionally, Mosquito Creek is known to have returning Steelhead. However, only one pair has ever been documented
Below are a few images and descriptions to help you identify any salmon you come across, whether it be in Mosquito Creek or somewhere else on the West Coast.
Historically, Mosquito Creek was home to four species of salmon, now there are only three species that return to the creek.
The three salmon you can find returning to the creek are Coho, Chum & Pink* - Pink salmon return only on odd years.
Additionally, Mosquito Creek is known to have returning Steelhead. However, only one pair has ever been documented
Below are a few images and descriptions to help you identify any salmon you come across, whether it be in Mosquito Creek or somewhere else on the West Coast.
Coho Salmon
Ocean Stage
- White Gums with Black Tongue
- Lightly Spotted on top half of body
- Silver Tail
- Tail base is wide in comparison to fish size
- Bright silver, hence the nickname "Silvers" in the USA
- Fish generally live 3 years, with huge growth spurt in final year
- Weight is generally between 3lbs to 15lbs
- Coho salmon returning to watersheds in Burrard Inlet are typically in the 3lbs to 8lbs range.
- Male Coho that return a year early to spawn are known as Jacks, these fish are noticeably smaller than the 3 year fish. Usually ranging between 2lbs - 3lbs
- Coho Salmon return to the Capilano as early as June, but large numbers do not return until late September.
- Early returning Coho are often referred to as bluebacks. Fisherman can be seen landing this fish during low tide at the mouth of the Capilano in the summer months.
Spawning Stage
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Chum Salmon
Ocean Stage
- White tip on the anal fin
- Long slender silver bodies
- Narrow tail base with some silver on the tail
- Chum live three to six years
- In the Burrard inlet watersheds average size is between 6lbs - 10lbs
- Watersheds in Howe Sound generally have much larger returning fish, many will be 15lbs+
Chinook Salmon
Ocean Stage
- Black Gums, dark mouth
- Silver spotted Tail, tail becomes more square with age
- Backs are lightly spotted, backs will appear Blue/Light-Green, with a UV purple shimmer
- Chinook return to spawn between ages of 3 and 8
- In BC Chinook are referred to Springs, anthing over 30lbs is considered a "Tyee"
- In the USA Chinook are called King Salmon
- You can fish for Chinook all year long in the Strait of Georgia and Burrard Inlet. These are resident Chinook and spend their who life growing and developing here before returning to spawn to whichever watershed they came from.
- Generally the Capilano River system have Chinooks ranging from 5lbs to 15lbs, on occasion there are fish in excess of 20lbs.
Spawning Stage
- Fish become very dark green in coloration the longer they are in fresh water
- Some may even go black or slightly reddish in coloration
- Back remains lightly spotted, with black gums and a spotted silver tail
Pink Salmon
Ocean Stage
- Everything is tiny with Pink Salmon
- Fish average around 4lbs - 5lbs
- Scales are noticeably tiny when compared to other species
- Tail is heaving marked with large spots
- Only species with no silver in tail
- Live only two years
- Every year there are returning fish in watersheds north of River's Inlet, BC
- South of River's Inlet Pink's return ONLY on odd years
- Mouth is similar to Chinook's, black gums and tongue BUT Pink's have a white mouth with no "teeth" on the tongue.
Spawning Stage
- Mature males bodies are olive/gray and have a dark back
- Males develop an exaggerated hump behind their heads in the spawning stage, often referred to as "humpies"
- Females too are olive green, no hump and have blotches of red/purple along a pale background on their sides.
- Tails remain heavily spotted
Sockeye Salmon
Ocean Stage
- The most sought after salmon for eating
- Sockeye are nearly toothless and have many gill rakers
- Slim and streamlined
- Silvery-Blue in coloration
- Lives between 4 and 6 years
- Average between 4lbs to 6lbs
- Juveniles remain in freshwater lakes for a year or more as they develop
- Fleshy lips with tiny teeth, no "teeth" on tongue
- No black spots on tail
Spawning Stage
- As Sockeye enter fresh water their promiment silver color becomes slightly purple
- The males soon begin to acquire a green head, hooked jaws, a hump and a very bright red body and red fins
- Females acquire the same coloration without a hooked jaw or hump
- In most watersheds the spawning fish are a very bright red
Steelhead/Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout and Steelhead are genetically the same species. The only difference being a Steelhead undergoes a miraculous change and ventures out to the open ocean. Migratating to open ocean means they are anadromous. Many Rainbow trout are either "resident rainbows," which mean they spend their whole life in a stream or river or "land-locked" meaning they are trapped in lakes unable to migrate to the ocean.
Steelhead are unique among the Pacific Salmonids in that they have the ability to spawn and go back out to the ocean multiple times without dying. The ability to spawn without death in fish is called "non-semelparous."
Steelhead are the most sought-after game fish in freshwater, this is because their bodies do not weaken like those of the salmon. The fight that fisherman receive is like that of no other Pacific Fish. Being a prized fighting fish accompanied by a unique and expensive taste - Steelhead are the most endagered Pacific Salmonid. Over fishing, both recreationally and commercially, have crippled the numbers of Steelhead. Additionally, Steelhead spend much more time in fresh water when compared to the Pacific Salmon species, so they are much more susceptible to stream and river pollution.
Steelhead are unique among the Pacific Salmonids in that they have the ability to spawn and go back out to the ocean multiple times without dying. The ability to spawn without death in fish is called "non-semelparous."
Steelhead are the most sought-after game fish in freshwater, this is because their bodies do not weaken like those of the salmon. The fight that fisherman receive is like that of no other Pacific Fish. Being a prized fighting fish accompanied by a unique and expensive taste - Steelhead are the most endagered Pacific Salmonid. Over fishing, both recreationally and commercially, have crippled the numbers of Steelhead. Additionally, Steelhead spend much more time in fresh water when compared to the Pacific Salmon species, so they are much more susceptible to stream and river pollution.
Identifying Steelhead
- Short Jaw that does not extend past the eye
- Dark spots on dorsal fin
- Square tail fin with spots
- Returning Steelhead can remain extremely silver for a period of time in freshwater, referred to as "Chromers"
- If the fish have been in the fresh water system for a long period of time, they will develop a prominent pink/red stripe along their side. This is accompanied by Pink/Rosy cheeks (red gill covers).
- Steelhead can grow in excess of 4ft and are a favorite game fish as they remain extremely powerful fighters in fresh water
- They do not die after spawning
- They spend up to 4 years in the ocean before returning to spawn
- Can live in excess of 9 years
- Live more solitary lives than those of salmon, do not come to spawn in large numbers or "schools"
- There are often two runs of Steelhead, a "Winter-run" and a "Summer-run." Generally more returning fish in the Summer months.
Female Spawning Colors
Male Spawning Colors