Salmon Migration Process and Facts

• Born in fresh water (redds or “nests”)
• They eat mostly bugs and small invertebrates as young fish
• Stay there for 3 months to 2 years before making way to ocean
• While making their way to ocean (smolt stage) their color changes to dark tops and light bellies and their gills and kidneys adjust to process salt water.
• They live in ocean until sexual maturity 2-6 yrs
• They then make their way back to the fresh water area in which they hatched, sometimes 100s to 1000s of miles.
• Once they make their way back, if they make the journey, they reproduce (only one time in their life) then die.
• Only 10% make it to the Smolt stage
• All salmon die after spawning due to the fact that they do not eat after they reach fresh water again

5 Species Found in the Pacific Northwest

*Chinook (King)
Feb – Mid November
Chignik, Arctic, Cook Inlet, Copper River, SE Alaska

*Sockeye (Red)
May – End of September
Chignik, Bristol Bay, Arctic, Copper River

*Coho (Silver)
July – End Sept
All over Pacific Northwest

Chum (Dog, Keta, Calico)
June – Mid January
October – January only in Puget Sound, WA

Pink (humpback)
found everywhere and are the most abundant

*Served during the Pacific Catch “Wild Salmon” menu promotion.