Description:  Cutthroat trout are the smallest of the salmonids; typically range in weight from 1 to 4 pounds, but can get up to 24 inches in length.  These fish are similar in color to the steelhead with fine, dark spots speckled on their backs and tails.  Cutthroat trout, however, can be distinguished by the vivid red “slashes” or “cut” marks along the lower jaw.

Range: Northern California to Prince William Sound, Alaska. 

Abundance: Moderately abundant; however, the status of many stocks is unclear and the sport of harvest of sea-run cutthroat is becoming increasingly restrictive to protect stocks.

Life History:  Coastal cutthroat typically spend 1 to 4 years in fresh water and about 1 year in saltwater.  Unlike many other salmonids that migrate far out to sea, coastal cutthroat tend to remain in estuaries and or near shore, returning to freshwater to overwinter and to spawn in the spring. Like steelhead, they may survive the first spawning and migrate to saltwater again.  Cutthroat have 4 life histories: sea-run (semi-anadromous); stream resident (often found above barriers); fluvial (grow large in streams and spawn in smaller tributaries); and adfluvial (grow in lakes and spawn in tributaries).  Each of these four life history types tend to seek out small streams for spawning. 

Spawning Season: December to May. 

Habitat Requirements: Coastal cutthroat trout spawn and reside during their juvenile phase in the upper tributaries of coastal rivers.  These habitats are vulnerable to logging, which causes silt-blocking of fine spawning gravel and loss of shade over the small streams.  During their saltwater residence cutthroat roam the edges of estuaries, preying on small schooling fishes.   

In Our Local Watersheds:  There are 1 or more native stocks of cutthroat trout in the Nooksack River basin, but very little is known about their population status.  Sea-run cutthroat are found in more streams of Whatcom County than any other salmonid.  Cutthroat trout are also listed as a “Species of Concern” in Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia and are a candidate for listing as an Endangered Species.

Did You Know? Cutthroat trout spawn upstream of every other salmonid, including coho and steelhead.  These fish also can hybridize with rainbow trout.  The offspring are referred to as “cut-bows”.

For more information on Whatcom County's cutthroat trout click here.