North Cascades

Salmon of the Skagit River Watershed

Sockeye Salmon (also called reds) Oncorhyncus nerka Sockeye salmon spawn only in streams having lakes in their watershed. The young fish, known as fry, spend one to three years in the freshwater before migrating to the ocean. They spend three to four years in the salt water, and thus are four to six years old when they return to spawn in the fall (September-December). Sockeye are blue tinged with silver in color during their ocean life. Male sockeye develop a hump during their transition from salt to fresh water and their jaw and teeth become hooked. Both sexes return to spawn with bright red bodies, green heads, and a dark stripe on their sides. When mature, they average 33 inches in length and weigh six to eight pounds.