Sockeye Salmon ~their Lifecycle

The sockeye salmon are the third most populous species of the Pacific Salmon, after Pink and Chum salmon.

Other Names

They are also known as red or blueback salmon. Those that are landlocked in freshwater areas are called kokanee.

Distribution

They range from northern California to southern Alaska.

Behavior

Born in freshwater, the young salmon journey downstream to the Pacific Ocean when they are 1-2 years old. There they live for 1-3 years before returning to their birthplace to spawn and die.

They use their sense of smell to help them find their way back to their natal stream.

Identification

During their adult life in the ocean, sockeye salmon have a dark-bluish top with black spots and silver sides. And when they swim back upriver to their birthplace to spawn, their body turns bright red with a dark-greenish head. The adult males develop a hump back and a hooked jaw filled with sharp teeth.

Each female can produce 2000 – 5000 eggs, depending on the size of each female.

Size and Age

Red or blueback salmon range in size from 20 – 30 inches in length with an average weight from 5 – 8 lbs.

They can grow to as large as 15 lbs and an average lifespan from 3 – 5 years.

The world tackle record is an Alaskan fish weighing 15 lbs and 3 ounces.

Kokanee are smaller in size and weight – growing to 14 inches long and not more than 1 lb in weight.

Diet

Sockeye common diets in the ocean are zooplankton and orange krill. Sometimes they may feed on small fish, shrimps, crustaceans and squid.

AS Food for Human Predators

The flesh of this salmon is firm and bright orange-red in color. Rich in protein, vitamin D and Omega 3 the meat is tasty and delicious, especially when eaten raw with wasabi (sashimi) or smoked.

Fetching higher price than any other Pacific salmon, the meat of sockeye are sold fresh, salted, smoked or frozen, as well as canned.

Angling

They are netted commercially using gillnets and seines. Sport fishermen are able to catch them with artificial lures such as spoons, spinnerbaits, flies or natural baits such as squid and small baitfish.

Sockeye salmon are powerful fighters with powerful leaps of the water when hooked, making them very popular game-fish. And combined with their high price and good eating quality it is all too easy to overfish this fish. Try your best to takes home what you need -- not the limit!

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