In 1997, S.B. 236 designated the Bonneville Cutthroat Trout as the official state fish of Utah, replacing the Rainbow Trout which had held the title since 1971 (Utah Code). Senator Pete Suazo (D-Salt Lake City) sponsored the bill in a spirit of historical accuracy. The Bonneville cutthroat trout (BCT), a native Utah species, was a vital food source for both indigenous peoples and Latter-day Saint pioneers. Governor Mike Leavitt signed the bill into law on March 12, 1997.

The cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii, has 15 recognized subspecies, one of which is the Bonneville cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus virginalis utah (formerly Oncorhynchus clarkii utah). There are four subspecies of cutthroat trout in Utah: Bear River, Bonneville, Colorado River and Yellowstone. Compared to other cutthroat trout subspecies, the BCT is typically less vibrant in color. Lake and reservoir BCT are varying shades of gray and river BCT are yellowish. However, coloration can differ based on habitat and genetics within specific populations. A defining characteristic, shared with all cutthroat species, is the distinctive bright red mark beneath the jaw. All cutthroat trout have a “cut,” a patch of orange or red on the throat. The BCT have basibranchial (hyoid) teeth in their throat between the gill arches. They typically have long heads and large, defined jawlines. The BCT has large, distinct spots that are generally distributed uniformly along its sides. 

Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Scientific Classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Genus: Oncorhynchus
Species: O. virginalis
Subspecies: O. v. utah
Trinomial Name: Oncorhynchus virginalis utah

The Bonneville cutthroat trout were plentiful in the 19th century, but experienced a sharp population decline due to overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and introduced species. By the early 20th century, they were believed to be extinct. Six small populations were rediscovered in the 1970s. Through extensive state and local conservation initiatives, the Bonneville cutthroat trout has significantly rebounded. Nevertheless, Utah remains vigilant in monitoring this species, which remains susceptible to habitat loss and competition from non-native fish. The cutthroat is known to be more vulnerable to anglers because of a general lack of wariness and can be caught on a wide variety of bait.