Oncorhynchus keta

Finger bay was my favorite field work location. While netting sockeye to collect otoliths from, we caught a solitary chum salmon. Strikingly big, immensely beautiful. We saw one early on in our trip, but no one got a picture of it, and I was disappointed because I wanted to paint one. Then this guy turned up and answered my prayers.

I will never forget how impressive and resilient these fish are. I can’t think of any animal that is tougher than a salmon.

Available as a print/t-shirt/pillow on society6 http://society6.com/blackseafoam/fi.....bay_print#1=45