Salmon Species of the World
7 salmon species can be found around the world. 6 of these salmon species are native to the Pacific Ocean; the Cherry Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Chum Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, and Sockeye Salmon. The other salmon species is the Atlantic Salmon, aptly name for its home waters of the Northern Atlantic. These salmon are anadromous fish, meaning they spend majority of their time at sea before returning to their streams of origin to spawn. While the Pacific Salmon expire after their spawning runs, Atlantic Salmon can come and go from their freshwater homes and return to the sea each year. These fish are coveted not only by anglers, but their entire ecosystems as they bring in massive amounts of nutrients from there time at sea which are deposited on the riverbanks with their decaying flesh. These nutrients provide sustenance for much of the flora and fauna which inhabit the otherwise nutrient poor rivers and forests. While these fish have historically faced massive obstacles introduced by man, populations are beginning to rebound with new conservation efforts.
Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic Salmon are native to the waters of the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Healthy populations still exist from Western Russia where the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans meet to the coastal rivers of Eastern Canada. The southern extent to their range extends to the southern Baltic and the UK in the east and a handful of smaller rivers around Maine and Canada. Reestablished populations exist along the Aroostook and Penobscot Rivers in Maine, but their existence remains in the balance. Landlocked Atlantic Salmon can be found as far south as Massachusetts where they run inland lakes and streams for their entire life. Reintroductions have also occurred throughout the Great Lakes region, in places such as the Au Sable River where they once maintained strong populations. In Europe, Atlantic Salmon populations once extended as far south as the Mediterranean and Northern Africa. These populations disappeared following the end of the last ice age with remnant populations disappearing from the Iberian peninsula in the past century. Places such as the Kola Peninsula in Russia, the smaller streams of Iceland, and the wide rivers such as the Miramichi in Eastern Canada are known for producing world class Atlantic Salmon. Both numbers and size are present in all of these locations.
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon
Landlocked Salmon have produced popular sport fisheries on several streams in the New England region of the U.S. Maine is home to many of these fisheries such as the Kennebec River and forementioned Penobscot. These salmon are not as large as their sea run brothers and sisters, but fight like missiles all the same. The fish spend the warmer and colder months of the year patrolling inland lakes for various forage opportunities and move back into the river in the Spring and Fall to feed and spawn. These fish aggressively chase moving flies, whether it is a skate caddis or stripped streamer.
Atlantic Salmon are no longer limited to the Northern Hemisphere. Stocked populations have been introduce the the rivers and lakes of Patagonia and New Zealand. Patagonia holds the healthiest populations of Atlantics that were first introduced by aquaculture activities several decades ago. Now there are both anadromous and landlocked populations available to anglers in the autumn months. Landlocked Atlantic Salmon in Patagonia reach similar sizes to that of sea run individuals with the massive protein availability found in Argentina's larger man made reserviors.
Pacific Salmon Species
Pacific Salmon​
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Chinook (King) Salmon
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Chum (Dog) Salmon
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Cherry (Masu) Salmon
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Coho (Silver) Salmon
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Pink (Humpy) Salmon
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Sockeye (Red) Salmon
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​ Landlocked Pacific Salmon
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Kokanee (Sockeye)
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Amago (Cherry)
Chinook Salmon
Chinook or King Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest of all of the salmon species. King Salmon can be found from the Russian Far East to the rivers of Alaska and southward to the San Francisco Bay Area. There runs begin early than the other salmon species and they are often known to travel the farthest distances inland. In North America, these runs can begin as early as May. In their southern distributions found in Oregon and Washington State, anglers can see early and late run fish. Kings typically spend 3-5 years at sea, the longest duration of any Pacific Salmon, which allows them to grow to massive proportions.
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Their size and prowess as hard fighters, it is no wonder the Chinook has been introduced to a handful of other regions around the planet. Introductions have occured in the Great Lakes, Patagonia, and New Zealand. While the largest individuals are still found in the Northern Pacific, these areas are certainly capable of producing bragging sized individuals each year.
Chum Salmon
Chum or Dog Salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, often get a bad name due to their lesser quality meat than their salmon cousins. However, they can be the most aggressive of the Pacific Salmon after returning to freshwater streams. They can be found around the Northern Pacific Rim from Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, to the coastal rivers of Oregon. Chum runs are the latest of the season, occurring in late July at the northern end of their range and as late as November at their southern end.
Chum salmon are easily distinguished from their gnarlier kyped jaws and multicolored callico side flanks.
Cherry Salmon
The Cherry Salmon, Oncorhynchus masou, is the only Pacific Salmon found exclusively in Asia. Its native range extends from Japan's main island to the river of the Kamchatkan Peninsula in Russia. Aesthetically, the cherry salmon has the red body color, similar to the Sockeye, once returned to freshwater, while also possessing the splotched calico pattern along its flanks similar to the chum. The Cherry salmon is on the smaller scale along with the Pink and Sockeye salmon. Their runs begin earlier in the summer season.
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Amago​
In Japan, the anadromous Cherry Salmon are referred to as Masou. These fish live the same lifestyle as the other Pacific Salmon. The landlocked or freshwater populations are known as Amago. Amago or Cherry Trout are much smaller and spend their lives within their streams of origin. You can learn more about the Amago in our article on the Trout Species of the World.
Coho Salmon
The Coho or Silver Salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is renown for its fighting prowess and ability to grow to a hefty size. While it does not grow to the size of the Chinook, its acrobatics and hard fighting ability draws anglers from all over the world. Like the Chum Salmon, Coho are also known for chasing and eating moving baits once they reach their freshwater streams of origin. They are also one of the late running salmon species with migrations beginning in late summer and lasting through the fall months.
Their range extends from the Kamchatkan Peninsula around the Pacific rim to Central California, with populations once existing as far south as Malibu. Their sportfish prowess have lead them to be stocked in the Great Lakes, Patagonia region, and the coastal streams of New Zealand much like the King Salmon.
Pink Salmon
Pink Salmon or Humpies, Oncorhynchus nerka, is one of the smaller salmon species. Well know for its oddly shaped body after reaching fresh water. they travel in the millions, returning to their home waters every 2 years. Their numbers make them an easy target for many first timers to a salmon river. Their range runs mirrors that of the Chum Salmon, running from the Northern island of Japan to the coastal streams of Washington state. Stocking of Pink salmon outside its native range, has only been done in the Northern Great Lakes Region. Runs occur in mid to late summer in northern latitudes while fall runs move start in October within their southern range. Their smaller bodies leave them open to predation with larger predators such as the Taimen in Mongolia and Russia.
Sockeye Salmon
The Sockeye or Red Salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, can be found around the Pacific Rim from the Russian Far East to Washington State. However, sockeye have been stocked in many inland reserviors where they are known as Kokanee. Sea going sockeye tend to fall in the 4 to 10 pound range. It is impossible to miss these fish once the dawn their spawning colors in fresh water, turning anglers heads as big red fire trucks. Runs begin in July and numbers taper off by fall.
Kokanee
Kokanee are the Sockeye Salmon that have been landlocked in freshwater. These populations were often stocked to promote new fisheries for anglers, or provide an additional food resource for larger lake dwelling predators. In the Pacific Northwest, Lake Trout and Bull Trout are the main beneficiaries of these stocked salmon. In lakes further to the south in Utah, Colorado, and further east into North Carolina, Brown Trout can take advantage of these smaller salmon.