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Archive 2013 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Charlie Shugart
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Spawning occurs in late summer.
After 2-5 years at sea, the adult Pacific sockeye (aka red) salmon return to the small creeks where they were born. They find their way because as newborns they imprinted on the smell/taste of the exact place they hatched. They follow that "scent" all the way to its source.
The adults pair off; the female scoops out a shallow place on the stream bottom and deposits her eggs- which are immediately fertilized by her attendant male. Then the two defend the eggs- from trout especially- until they die.
About two feet long and weighing 8-12 pounds, sockeyes are very popular among Alaska's sports fishermen.
But only before they get to their spawning grounds. When they turn white their flesh is decaying and they will soon die.


	Charlie Shugart 2013

Alaska- Spawning Sockeye Salmon

Apr 24, 2013 at 04:35 PM

CDaescher
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Another interesting post with good info.
Thanks for sharing, Charlie.
Chris

Apr 24, 2013 at 04:47 PM

MS PHOTO
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Hey Charlie, great post & interesting info.
Thanks Paul

Apr 24, 2013 at 04:58 PM

morris
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Fine documentary work Charlie. I recall having fresh salmon from the river when rafting in Alaska

Morris

Apr 24, 2013 at 05:48 PM

surfnron
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Interesting stuff Charlie ~ Ron

Apr 24, 2013 at 06:21 PM

birdied
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Nice shot and wonderful information Charlie!

Birdie

Apr 24, 2013 at 07:14 PM

Charlie Shugart
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Thanks Chris, Paul, Morris, Ron and Birdie.
Among Alaska's several salmon species, reds, silvers and the huge (sometimes over 50 lbs) king salmon are most prized by Alaskans to be taken home and cooked on the barbie.
Pink salmon are mostly canned commercially.
Chum salmon are often called dogfish; Alaskan friends told me that chum are fed to their dogs.
Salmon are born in streams and migrate to the nearest lake. Those that don't go to sea in a couple of years are called kokanee.
Steelhead salmon are actually trout that went to sea, grew big, and returned to their place of birth to spawn.
Record travelers are chum salmon. Some are born in the streams that form the headwaters of the Yukon River. They travel 2,000 miles to the sea, eat and grow, and then travel 2,000 miles up the Yukon River to spawn. And that's not counting the hundreds of miles they travel in the ocean, feeding.
Chinook salmon (aka king) can grow to weights over 100 lbs.
The heaviest (i.e. world record) chinook ever caught on light tackle was just over 97 lbs. It was caught on the lower Kenai River a few years before I worked at a lodge on the upper Kenai River.
Charlie

Apr 24, 2013 at 09:09 PM

tfoltz
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Great shot Charlie they almost look like Koi

-Tim

Apr 24, 2013 at 09:16 PM

KCollett
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Lots of good info Charlie. Good shot too.

Apr 24, 2013 at 10:29 PM

Shasoc
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Nice image, Charlie, that your commentary made more interesting

Socrate

Apr 24, 2013 at 11:27 PM

kmunroe
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

interesting post Charlie.. nicely done

Apr 25, 2013 at 03:16 AM

raymondjbarlow
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

well done, amazing colours Charlie.

Apr 25, 2013 at 08:51 PM

Jude Perera
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Very interesting indeed Charlie. Thanks for sharing the image and info.

Jude

Apr 25, 2013 at 08:58 PM

ktan7
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Interesting post, Charlie! Thanks for sharing.

Apr 25, 2013 at 08:59 PM

Charlie Shugart
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Alaska- spawning sockeye salmon

Thanks Tim, KenCollett, Socrate, KenMunroe, Raymond, Jude and Ktan.
Unlike koi, the blotches are not white colored and healthy flesh, though.
When Pacific salmon leave the ocean and enter fresh-water rivers, the reduced specific gravity of the water causes cells of their flesh to explode and die- turning white. In effect, the fish begin to die when entering fresh water. Many thousands of years of evolution time it so those that make it to the spawning grounds have enough energy to actually spawn.
Oh, the large jaws and jagged teeth are on adult males, and they develop at some time just before- or during- the spawning run. The teeth are to fight off interlopers- either competing males, or salmon-egg-loving trout.
Charlie

Apr 25, 2013 at 10:57 PM


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