My experience has been newly arrived coastal SRC's, mid-summer/Fall, tend to be pretty silvery with faint spots and a barely noticeable orange jaw slash. As they stage in their river from late Fall/Winter/early Spring The more vivid colors come out. This is when they become eye candy IMO.

Here's one from a few winters ago caught while chasing wild winter steel. It's my biggest at an estimated 18-19" and also sports those wicked leopard spots.