California Honors State's Celebrated Wild King Salmon

FOLSOM, Calif. – All hail the California King! To call attention to the arrival of California’s wild King Salmon in the state’s restaurants and fish markets, the California Salmon Council officially presented a fresh, line-caught California King salmon to Secretary of California’s Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Karen Ross, and Director of California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Charlton H. Bonham.

“We are honored that these two very important state agencies have joined together to recognize the efforts of California’s commercial fishermen to provide salmon lovers everywhere with the best tasting salmon in the world,” said David Goldenberg, chief executive officer of the California Salmon Council. He added, “It is our hope that consumers seek out and enjoy California King Salmon this season.”

From May through September, the chilly ocean waters off California’s coast will yield the King, also known as the Chinook salmon, where it swims freely and is considered the most delectable salmon in the world.  Fishermen catch the salmon with barbless hooks which is referred to in food circles as the “hook to fork” approach complementing California’s burgeoning “farm to fork” food movement that is sweeping the country.

“The wild California King Salmon is a prime example of a California Grown fish,” said CDFA Secretary Ross.  She added, “Californians are the envy of the world among many food lovers given that we can visit a farmer’s market or local grocery store and buy one of the freshest, most delicious seafood items available.”

California has been catching King Salmon since the early 1850s when 100-pound Kings were caught regularly from the Sacramento River to feed hungry gold miners.  The King Salmon spawn in the Sacramento River and its tributaries and make up 90 percent of the salmon caught in California. The big fish pass through San Francisco Bay and roam the Pacific Ocean as far away as Alaska before returning three years later to spawn where they were born in the Sacramento River and its tributaries.

“The men and women who make up the California salmon fishing fleet are to be commended for their hard work and commitment to protect the salmon fishery to enable us to enjoy this delicious fish now and for years to come,” said CDFW Director Bonham. He added, “Their use of a barbless hook tied to an individual fishing line ensures a quality catch while providing a sustainable, responsible choice that helps maintain the fishery.”

For more information about California King Salmon including cooking tips, visit: www.calkingsalmon.org.

Source: California Salmon Council