Sockeye Salmon (also known as red salmon) - Oncorhynchus nerka

How Can You Tell the Difference?

Anglers should use three or more distinguishing characteristics to properly identify all salmon. Sockeye are sometimes confused with chum because they both lack spots on the tail and have a similar colouring.

Description of sockeye salmon in marine phase

The sockeye is almost toothless, with numerous long gill rakers and prominent, glassy eyes. The slimmest and most streamlined of the Pacific species, the silver-blue sockeye lives from four to five years. It usually weighs between 2.2 kg and 3.1 kg but can reach 6.3 kg. Young sockeye remain in fresh-water nursery lakes a year or more before migrating to the sea.

Each sockeye salmon you keep must be at least 30 cm long. 

Description of sockeye salmon in freshwater phase

Maturing sockeye have a distinctive silvery-purplish tinge. As he becomes more mature, the male acquires a pale green head, dark hooked jaws, humped back and bright red body with red fins. The female is generally the same with green and yellow blotches on the body, although the colour is less pronounced and she does not develop a hump or hooked jaw. In most runs mature fish are bright scarlet.

Sockeye Jaw   The lips of a sockeye are fleshy, the teeth are small and well-developed in both jaws. There are no teeth on the base of the tongue.

Sockeye Tail The sockeye's tail is moderately forked and it does not show any black spots.

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