Date:10/2/2023 8:00 AM
Happy Monday everyone, and to a good week ahead! Today's fish of the day is that sockeye salmon!
The sockeye salmon, known by scientific name Oncorhynchus nerka is native to our area, and passes through the McNary dam in late June to early July, with a peak every June 30th. Referred to as a salmon run, this is the common migration all salmon make back to the lakes they were born in. Sockeye salmon are smaller than most Pacific salmon growing only to around 80 cm, about 2 and a half feet. Their diet consists almost entirely of zooplankton, unlike other kinds of salmon, this diet persists into adulthood and fish in their ocean phase. Salmon runs come at the end of a salmon's life span, and after breeding in lakes and other still water they will pass away, becoming the first meal that the spawning salmon eat.
After spawning, juveniles can stay in their lake habitats for up to three years, although many will leave before that. Then, these salmon will migrate to the ocean at which point they will grow rapidly and will remain in the ocean for up to four years. Oftentimes, in their ocean phase they are referred to as blueback salmon, due to the coloration of the back. When in the ocean, sockeye salmon are known for their quick movements across the water column, and ability to school together to avoid predation.
I hope everybody has a wonderful Monday!