Numerous small scales; one dorsal fin plus one adipose fin; no spines in fins; back and tail lack distinct large black spots; first gill arch has 18-28 short, stout, smooth gill rakers; upper side of large individuals is steel-blue, with black speckles; sides silvery; silvery to white belly; tips of caudal, anal, and pectoral fins tinged black in males. Spawning males are dark olive to black on the upper side, with vertical red or dusky bars or blotches on green sides and white-tipped anal and pelvic fins. Spawning females are similar but less distinctly marked.

Numerous scales; one dorsal fin plus one adipose fin; no spines in fins; irregular black spots on back, both lobes of tail fin, dorsal fin, and adipose fin; gums black at base of teeth. In the ocean, chinook salmon are blue, green, or gray on the upper side, silvery-white on the flanks and belly. During the spawning season, chinook salmon are olive brown, red, or purplish, the color change being more pronounced in males than in females. Young have 6-12 large parr marks on each side. Total length to around 150 cm.

Sockeye salmon have numerous small scale, one dorsal fin plus one adipose fin, and no spines in the fins. The upper surface and tail fin of adults lack distinct dark spots. The first gill arch has 28-40 long slender gill rakers. The ocean stage is blue-green on top, silvery below. Spawning adults have a green head and bright red body, with the colors most intense in males. Maximum length is about 33 inches (84 cm). Young have 8-14 elliptical to oval parr marks on each side.

Pacific herrings have a compressed body, blue-green to olive back, silvery belly, one short dorsal fin in the middle of the back, no spines in the fins, a deeply forked tail, no adipose fin, no black spots on the sides, no striations on the gill covers, and weak belly scutes that are not strongly keeled. The pelvic fin is directly under the dorsal fin. Maximum length is about 1.5 feet (46 cm).