Is there just one species of salmon?

When we speak of “salmon” we are referring to either Atlantic salmon or Pacific salmon. There is only one species of Atlantic salmon: Salmo salar. There are six species of Pacific salmon: pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), chum (O.keta), chinook (O.tschawytscha), coho (O.kisutch), sockeye (O.nerka) and Masou (O.masou).

Do all Atlantic salmon go to sea?

No. Although most Atlantic salmon spend part of their lives at sea there are some which are non-migratory. In several lakes in eastern North America there is a form known as a land-locked salmon, Salmo salar sebago (Girard), though their access to sea is not barred. The fish is popularly called Ouananiche (Lake St. John) or Sebago salmon (Nova Scotia, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and the New England States). In Lake Vänern in Sweden there is a non-migratory form of Atlantic salmon called “blanklax”. Land-locked Atlantic salmon also occur in Lake Ladoga in Russia and in Norway in Lake Byglandsfjord. There are also land-locked Atlantic salmon in South Island, New Zealand.

How big can salmon grow?

Atlantic salmon can grow to a very large size and the biggest, which have reached up to around 70lbs (32kg), are usually caught in Norway and Russia. However, some very large fish have been recorded in Scottish rivers. It is generally accepted that the largest one caught on rod and line in the UK was taken by Miss Georgina Ballantyne in the River Tay: it weighed 64lbs (29kg). There is an 1891 report of a monster salmon of 70lbs, also caught in the River Tay, but on this occasion in a net belonging to a Mr. Speedie.

Do Atlantic salmon have a world-wide distribution?

No. Except for the land-locked varieties, they are naturally limited to the waters of countries bordering on the North Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea. The following countries presently have Atlantic salmon, in varying numbers: Canada, Denmark, England and Wales, Faroes, Finland, France, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, United States.

Do salmon always return to their own river?

Atlantic salmon return to their native river with amazing accuracy. Although some may stray to other rivers, the majority ascend their home river.

Can male and female salmon easily be identified?

When they arrive fresh from the sea it is difficult to distinguish the sex of salmon externally. Later the head of the male becomes elongated and grows a protuberance called a “kype” from the tip of the lower jaw. At this stage male and female are easily distinguished.

When do salmon spawn?

Spawning time varies between rivers and may be influenced by the water temperature and amount of daylight. Generally spawning will occur during the period November-December in Great Britain and Ireland but may extend from October until late February in our larger rivers.

Do all salmon die after spawning?

About 90-95% of all Atlantic salmon die following their first spawning, but some survive to spawn two or three times: as many as four spawnings have been reported. The survivors, predominantly female, return to sea to feed between spawnings.

How many eggs does an Atlantic salmon deposit?

Female salmon in most areas produce 450-750 eggs per pound of body weight but the number may rise, for example in Iceland, to 900.

Where are the Salmon eggs deposited?

They are laid in depressions called “redds” excavated by the female fish in the gravel of the river bottom. After the eggs are deposited they are immediately fertilised by an accompanying sea-run male, and often by mature male parr, and then covered with gravel by the female.

When do the Salmon eggs hatch?

The incubation time depends upon the water temperature. Hatching usually occurs in early spring and the young fish (called “alevins”) remain in the redd for a few weeks., nourished by the attached yolk sac. When they emerge from the gravel in April or May, they are about one inch in length. As they grow, the young fish develop prominent markings on their sides and are then known as parr.

How long do young Atlantic salmon stay in the river?

This is dependent upon the water temperature and the availability of food. The length of stay varies very much, from one year in the southern portion of the salmon’s range to five or more years in the more northern, colder regions.

When do Salmon leave the river?

The young fish, now called “smolts”, leave the rivers during the late spring. Most will be gone by June.