I don't know where they went... but lets see if the pics make it this time. View attachment 42868 View attachment 42867

 

That's definitely a cutty. The spots give it away.

 

Also: Coho don't have spots on their tail (if they do, it's usually just a few along the top top portion). Their tail tends to have more silvery streaks through them.

 

With the spots going well beyond the lateral line, the olive color of the head and the amount of spots on the whole tail....not just some on the upper lobe, I would agree with Evan...cutty. There are some things on the fish that would say Coho so it could be a tough call. Thanks for the post though and nice fish none the less! These posts are great for ID purposes....may save some cutties!

 

Nice looking cutty!

 

Definitely a cutthroat. But sometimes when you're out there fishing, it can be kindof tricky. If you think its a coho on the end of your line, and expect it to be a coho, then sometimes its hard for your eyes to convince your brain its not a coho.

For example:
Its a candlestick.

Oh wait no its two people kissing.

Our brain sometimes sees what it expects to, despite what our eyes tell it. so it can be tricky. Good job on posting to get second opinions, and to educate us about how careful we need to be before bagging a fish.:thumb:

 

A fool proof way to ID a cutt is stick your finger in its mouth along the tongue, If you feel teeth at the base of the tongue it is a cutt. These hyoid teeth point back to the gullet of the fish and are very apparent when you slide your finger back out of the mouth.

Dave

 

If in doubt, let it go.

I've caught some large Coastal Cutts that were
difficult to ID (bright silver, almost no spots,
very very slight color slashes under the jaw)
which takes me back to my first line.

Nice fish!

Dave

 

Vanvgi1-
If you are looking for a dinner fish a simple way to insure it is a coho is to kill only those missing an adipose fin.

tight lnes
curt

 

Coho have a "forked" tail, trout have a "squared" off tail. Look at the photos of the salmon vs. the coho on here. You will see.
Here's a little coho to look at. They also have white gum line. Now compare this to your photo.

 

This is the best and safest way to tell. Coho have forked tails, and trout are squared across. If you really can't tell, just let it go, there's no reason to be sticking your fingers down their throats.

The fork is so distinct that when we measure coho in surveys, the reading is from the nose to the inside of the fork. With cutthroat, you measure to the tip of the tail.

It's easier as you see more of each species obviously, but look at page 28 of the current regs. The coastal cutt has a squared off tail. On page 99 the coho has a fork in the tail, which is even more pronounced in younger fish.

 

Thanks for all your insight and especially for posting a picture of a real Coho. The visual differences are subtle but I think I can finger it out now. :clown:
It was good advice - so unless I'm pretty sure... they all go back to the briny deep.
Maybe someday someone can figure out how these Puget Sound SRC's came to look more like Coho than Cutthroat. Might even be a graduate thesis in there somewhere.

 

In addition to the above, another quick way to differentiate is to squint your eyes a bit and just look at the coloration: Coho give off a bluish hue to them, Coastal cutts have a greenish tone with a yellowish hue to the underside/fin area. This is usually evident as soon as the fish comes toward the surface.

 

iagree

Roger

 

The coloration of the sea-run cutthroat is similar to that of the coho for the same reason that all salmonids develop such coloration in salt water: it's the stealthiest color combination for a free-swimming fish which may be prey or predator.

 

If anyone needs sea-run cutthroat 8.5"x11" yellow plastic identification signs to be posted at popular fishing locations we still have some at the Gig Harbor Fly Shop. Next time you're in ask for one and go staple it up. If you have access to private piers that are part of housing developments please put one up. A lot of cutthroat are killed by inexperienced anglers out fishing during the Summer and they just don't know any better.

 

Thanks Blake!

I just dropped some off at Puget Sound Fly Co. as they had run out, and I still have a good supply of posters.

If any of you can use more signs, especially the shops and clubs, pm me and I'll mail some out.

With pinks coming this season, there will be lots more novices on the beaches, so this is a good time to protect the trout.

 

I could probably use a few. I have seen some that were pretty faded, but, they were facing "south" toward the sun. Better to orient them facing north. I'll pick some up at Gig Harbor Fly Shop if I remember. I was in my credit union a few weeks ago and overheard a customer speaking with the clerk. Conversation was that he was going fishing for sea run cutthroat. The gal said, "oh, gonna have a barbeque eh?" The guy said "Yup". I had to speak up at that point and I said "You know they are catch and release right?" Oh, yeah..... (pause) but you can keep the "clipped ones"..... $^&*^%#*)#@#&@

 

Conversation was that he was going fishing for sea run cutthroat. The gal said, "oh, gonna have a barbeque eh?" The guy said "Yup". I had to speak up at that point and I said "You know they are catch and release right?" Oh, yeah..... (pause) but you can keep the "clipped ones"..... $^&*^%#*)#@#&@[/QUOTE]

There is no excuse for that kind of stupidity.
Thanks to Don F. I made sure this last spring that every beach access on Camano and Everett I could get too was posted.