Sturgeon
White and green Sturgeon are native to California . They are anadromous,
meaning they move from the salt and brackish water to freshwater to
spawn. Sturgeon are long-lived and can live to be 100 years or older.
Sturgeon reach sexual maturity at around 15 years old. Mature females
spawn every 2 to 4 years. Large females produce many more eggs than
their smaller counterparts. Very high flow years lead to sturgeon
spawning success. Long life, late sexual maturity and infrequent
spawning contribute to the vulnerability of the sturgeon population.
Coho Salmon
Coho salmon, (Oncorhynchus kisutch) as noted by Moyle (1976), Laufle et
al. (1986), and Anderson (1995) are medium
to large salmon, with spawning adults typically 40 to 70 cm (15.8 to
27.6 inches) fork length (FL) and weighing 3 to 6 kg
(6.6 to 13.2 lbs). Coho salmon as large as 80 cm (31.5 inches) and 10 kg
(22 lbs) have been caught in California.
Identifying fin characteristics are 9 to12 major dorsal fin rays, 12
to17 anal fin rays, 13 to 16 pectoral fin rays, 9 to 11
pelvic fin rays (with an obvious axillary process at the fin base), a
small fleshy adipose fin, and a slightly indented
caudal fin. The scales are small and cycloid. The lateral line is
complete and almost straight with 121 to 148 pored
scales. Pyloric caeca number 45 to 83. There are 11 to15 branchiostegal
rays on either side of the jaw. Gill rakers are
rough and widely spaced, with 12 to16 on the lower limb (half) and 6 to
9 an the upper limb (half) of the first gill
arch.
Spawning adults are generally dark and drab. The head and back are dark,
dirty bluegreen; the sides are a dull maroon
to brown with a bright red lateral streak; and the belly is gray to
black (Moyle 1976; Laufle et al. 1986; Sandercock
1991). Females are paler than males, usually lacking the red streak.
Characteristics of spawning males also include:
hooked jaw, enlarged and more exposed teeth, slightly humped back and a
more compressed head and body. The
snout is less deformed than in other salmon species. Both sexes have
small black spots on the back, dorsal fin, and
upper lobe of the caudal fin. Except for the caudal and dorsal, the
other fins lack spots. The gums of the lower jaw
are grey, except the upper area at the base of the teeth, which is
generally whitish.
Adult Coho salmon in the ocean are steel-blue to slightly greenish on
the back, silvery on the sides, and white on the
belly. They have numerous small, irregular black spots on the back,
upper sides above the lateral line, and base of the
dorsal fin and upper lobe of the caudal fin. The adults have black
mouths with white gums at the base of the teeth in
the lower jaw; this is the most reliable physical feature that
distinguishes them from chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha).
Juvenile Coho salmon in inland waters are blue-green on the back, with
silvery sides. The parr have 8 to 12 parr marks
centered along the lateral line, which are more narrow than the pale
interspace between them. The adipose fin is
uniformly pigmented, or finely speckled giving it a grey or dusky color.
The other fins lack spots and are usually orange
tinted; however, the intensity of the orange tint varies greatly. The
anal fin is pigmented between the rays, often
producing a black and orange banding pattern. The anal fin is large,
with the first few anterior rays elongated and
white with black behind. The large eye and the characteristic
sickle-shape of the anal and dorsal fins are
characteristic of Coho salmon juveniles that distinguishes them from
juveniles of other Pacific salmon species.
Chinook Salmon
California streams support the southern-most Chinook salmon runs on the
west coast. Chinook salmon in California
display a wide array of life history patterns that allow them to take
advantage of the diverse and variable riverine and
ocean environments. Chinook salmon are “anadromous” fish, migrating
upstream as adults to spawn in freshwater
streams, and migrating as juveniles downstream to the ocean to grow and
mature. The time spent in the ocean and
freshwater varies greatly among the various runs. At least seventeen
distinct runs of Chinook salmon are recognized in
California . These runs have been classified into six major groups, or
Evolutionarily Significant Units:
Brook Trout
Brook trout are native to eastern North America and were brought to
California in the late 1800's. Brook trout are
currently widespread throughout the Sierra Nevada with wild brook trout
occupying hundreds of miles of streams.
Many high mountain lakes have been stocked with fingerling brook trout,
providing fast action angling and tasty dinners
while in the high country. Brook trout, like other char, are fall
spawners. Most trout species require clean gravel beds
in flowing water for spawning, however, "brookies" are capable of
natural reproduction in the substrates of many high
mountain lakes. In the nutrient-poor waters of the high Sierra lakes
brook trout are prone to stunting where food and
space are limiting. To help alleviate stunted brook trout populations a
"bonus brook trout bag limit" has been
established for waters of the Sierra and North Coast Districts. South of
Interstate 80 an additional 10 brook trout less
than 10 inches total length may be kept in addition to the regular
five-trout bag limit. For Sierra District waters in
Shasta, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties and in the North Coast District,
the bonus bag limit is 10 brook trout less than 8
inches total length.
Brown Trout
Brown trout, originally from Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and
parts of Asia, were introduced into California
in 1893. Since that time, brown trout have been distributed throughout
the state. Brown trout are found in a high
percentage of the waters with suitable trout habitat in California, due
to their popularity and the resulting extensive
stocking during the past century. Brown trout have adapted well to
California waters and their ability to compete with
other kinds of trout has contributed to their widespread distribution.
Many of the waters in the Wild Trout Program,
such as Hot Creek, East Walker River, Fall River, Hat Creek, and the
Owens River support healthy brown trout
populations. Cherished by many, the brown trout is a challenging
adversary for California wild trout anglers. These
wily gamefish find, occupy, and defend the prime cover and feeding spots
in a stream and often live to advanced age
and grow to trophy size.
Bull Trout
The bull trout is now considered extinct in California. The bull trout
represents a case history of the demise of a native
fish species. Bull trout are char, the group of salmonids that includes
brook trout, lake trout, and Dolly Varden. In
California, bull trout were historically found only in the McCloud River
system, the river with the best conditions for
this species and the southernmost part of the species' range. A variety
of human activities led to the loss of bull trout:
dam-building and water diversions, introduction of non-native
competitors like brown trout and loss of contact with
juvenile salmon, an important item of food. The bull trout in other
parts of their Pacific Northwest range are in peril
and have been listed under the Endangered Species Act. A reintroduction
of bull trout to McCloud tributaries was
unsuccessful, ten years ago. Further attempts to reintroduce bull trout
in California are uncertain at this time.
Coastal Cutthroat Trout
The coastal cutthroat is one of the three native cutthroat subspecies in
California. The coastal cutthroat is
characterized by profuse spotting on the body and the typical red-orange
slashes under the jaw. These marks may fade
or disappear completely when the fish resides in salt water. Anglers
often mistake coastal cutthroats for rainbow trout.
In California, the native range of the coastal cutthroat begins near the
Eel River drainage and includes drainages north
to Oregon and beyond into Alaska. Many of the populations are anadromous,
"sea-run" cutthroat. Others are freshwater
residents and some travel between the brackish estuaries and the
freshwater tributaries. Although much of the native
range is still occupied their numbers have suffered declines. In most
areas where cutthroat exist, fishing oppotunities
have been limited by restrictions to protect anadromous salmonids. There
are some waters that feature special
regulations for cutthroat, however, so be sure to check the regulations
before fishing.
Redband Trout
Redband trout are a form of rainbow trout that have been isolated from
the coastal rainbow trout over many
centuries. Forms of redband trout are found in many of the interior
drainages of the West, including California's Goose
Lake, upper McCloud River, and Warner Valley populations. These unique
redbands may be highly colored and share
similar traits to golden trout of the Kern Plateau. The redband trout
inhabits both lake and riverine systems in northern
California. The fish is known for the brilliant red/crimson stripe along
it's side. The adaptability of the redband to
adverse conditions is impressive. Redband trout can not only tolerate
temperatures above 80 degrees (F), but can also
feed and gain weight! Some of the problems facing the redband include
hybridization with introduced rainbow trout
and surviving altered habitat conditions. Angling opportunities for
redband trout in California have been limited but
will improve in the future.
Thanks to California Department of Fish
http://www.dfg.ca.gov for the material above. |
