Trout & Salmon
Sockeye Salmon
Oncorhynchus nerka
BothSalmonidaeVaries by population; some are listed as endangered or threatened, while others are stable.
About
Sockeye salmon are anadromous fish, meaning they are born in freshwater, migrate to the ocean to grow, and return to freshwater to spawn. During their spawning migration, their bodies turn bright red, and males develop a humped back and hooked jaws.
- Average size
- 23-33 inches, 5-15 lbs
- Colors
- Ocean phase: Silver with a dark blue back. Spawning phase: Bright red body with a green head (males).
- Diet
- Ocean phase: Zooplankton, small fish, and crustaceans. Freshwater phase: Primarily do not feed during spawning migration, relying on stored energy reserves.
- Region
- Primarily Alaska and the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho). Some populations exist in California.