Sockeye Salmon
(Oncorhynchus nerka)
Sockeye salmon, also called red salmon or blueback salmon in the United States, is an anadromous species of salmon found in the Northern Pacific Ocean and rivers discharging into it. This species is a Pacific salmon that is primarily red in hue. They can be up to 33 inches in length and weigh anywhere from 5 to 15.5 lbs. A distinguishing feature of the sockeye salmon is the lack of a definite spot on the back and tail. Their diet consists primarily of zooplankton. Sockeye salmon are semelparous, dying after they spawn.
Information & Facts
Common Names - Red salmon, Blueback, Kokanee, Silvertrout
Size Range - 5-8 lbs, up to 15 lbs
State Record - 10.63 lbs; Gary Krasselt; Lake Washington, King County; July 20, 1982