Target Species: Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
Other Common Names: red salmon, Kennerly's salmon, quinalt , yank, silver trout
Identification: Blue-green back with silvery sides. Large black spots absent but may have small specks on back. Prominent gold eye and have 28-40 long slender gill rakers. Durning spawning males develop humped back and long hooked jaws with large teeth. When returning to spawn both sexes transform to bight to dark red on back and sides while the head and upper jaw become pale to olive green with a whitish lower jaw.
Biological Info: Juvenile red salmon hatched in lake systems spend up to four years in fresh water before migrating to the ocean as silvery smolt weighing only a few ounces. However, those hatched in streams without a lake nearby go to sea shortly after hatching. At sea they quickly attain the weight of 4-8 lbs in one to four years. Mature reds return to spawn in freshwater during summer months. Some sockeye remain in freshwater lakes their entire lives and are called kokanee. These landlocked reds are much smaller than the ocean going version seldom exceeding 14" in length.
Geographical Range: In eastern Pacific from Bathhurst Inlet in the Canadian Arctic as far south as the Klamath River in California and in the western Pacific from the Anadyr River in Siberia down to northern Hokkaido Island of Japan.
Favored Water Temp.: 50ºF-59ºF
Size: Adults average 4-8 lbs but can exceed 15 lbs.
IGFA Record: 15 lbs, 3 oz, Kenai River, Alaska, 8/9/87.
Sporting characteristics: For many years considered uncatchable since teed primarily on plankton but more recently fisherman have discovered that reds will strike small flies or small hooks baited with pieces of worm or a salmon egg. Good leapers and strong fighters that challenge light gear.
Food & Feeding Habits: Feed almost exclusively on plankton even as adults because they have so many long, thin gill rakers which act as strainers. Experts have surmised that this diet causes the striking red-orange color of this fish's flesh. While in the ocean occasionally feed on fish larvae as well as small mature fish such as sand lance and even small squid.
Fishing methods: Trolling pink hoochies which imitate plankton. Bottom bouncing corkies as well as drifting yarn and fly fishing are also effective.
Top Spots: Quesnel Lake, BC, Canada from May-June and September-October. Fraser River, BC, Canada from the end of July to the end of September. Upper Alagnak River, Alaska, July to early August.
Conservation: Follow local regulations. Keep only what is desired for personal consumption.
Also see
Chinook Salmon
Red Salmon
Pink Salmon
Coho Salmon
Chum Salmon
Cherry Salmon
Atlantic Salmon
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