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The coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) is one of four cutthroat trout species. While the species has multiple ecotypes, none are currently recognized as separate subspecies.
Coastal cutthroat trout are also referred to as sea-run trout, speckled trout, harvest trout, and blueback trout. Its scientific name honors William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804–1806.
Coastal cutthroat trouts populations in California and Oregon are vulnerable. The population in Washington has no status rank but can be assumed to be vulnerable given rankings of neighboring regions.
Forms of Coastal Cutthroat Trout
Coastal cutthroat trout can be found in a number of distinct forms:
semi-anadromous or sea-run form,
stream form, and
lake form.
The sea-run adults migrate from the ocean to freshwater streams to spawn. Juveniles return to the ocean to mature into adults before repeating the cycle. The adults tend to stay near the mouth of the river system they were born in, living in estuaries and near shore waters of the ocean.
Some populations, such as the Lake Crescent population, do not migrate to the ocean; instead they spend their entire life in freshwater lakes and streams.
A coastal cutt. USDA Photo.
The coastal cutthroat trout's range. Image by N8vetrout.
Native Range
The coastal cutthroat trout's range extends from the Prince William Sound in Alaska down to the Eel River in California. They are found in waters flowing into the Pacific Ocean.
Their range overlaps that of the coastal rainbow trout (O. mykiss irideus). While two species can naturally hybridize, they do so infrequently. These hybrids (O. mykiss x clarkii) are commonly called coastal cutbows or coastal bowcutts.
Angler Challenges
The coastal cutthroat trout is included in the Western Native Trout Challenge with catches in California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska qualifying.
The coastal cutthroat trout is also included in the California Heritage Trout Challenge.
See rules for each challenge and state regulations for restrictions.
A juvenile coastal cutthroat trout. Caught on a tributary of the Smith River.
Additional Reading
Diversity of Coastal Cutthroat Trout across their Distributional Range by Thomas Williams, et al., published in Cutthroat Trout - Evolutionary Biology and Taxonomy edited by Trotter, P., et. al (2018).
Trout and Salmon of North America by Robert Behnke
Oregon Native Fish Status Report, Volumes I and II, by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
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