Monstrous B.C. salmon is a jaw-dropper; fish caught for conservation

By Pete Thomas

A monstrous Chinook salmon was caught recently in British Columbia’s Wannock River, but instead of being carved into steaks it kept as brood stock.

A photo of the salmon, which was delivered to the Percy Walkus Hatchery, has gone viral since it was posted to Instagram last Thursday by the Pacific Salmon Foundation.

The man hoisting the massive fish is Ted Walkus, hereditary chief of the Wuikinuxv Nation in Rivers Inlet. Walkus used a net to trap the salmon.

 

 

Big fish for a big-hearted guy! We just had to share this pic of Ted Walkus, hereditary chief of the Wuikinuxv Nation in Rivers Inlet, B.C. This Chinook was captured for brood stock to raise the next generation of Wannock Chinook at the Percy Walkus Hatchery. Spread those good genetics around! #fishing #FirstNations #PSF #RiversInlet #WildSalmon #Outdoors #bc

A post shared by Pacific Salmon Foundation (@pacificsalmonfoundation) on Nov 9, 2017 at 3:19pm PST

“Spread those good genetics around!” the Instagram description concludes.

According to the Vancouver Is Awesome blog, the salmon had been heading upriver to spawn. 

It was one of nearly 100 Chinook salmon pulled from the river this season for egg and sperm collection, as part as  a conservation project to raise new salmon for release into the river.

(Hatchery-reared fry have a greater chance of surviving in the wild because the fish are not released until they measure 3-4 inches.)

The Wannock River, which regularly yields trophy-size Chinook salmon, is regarded by anglers as one of B.C.’s best-kept secrets.