Salmon: A Complete Overview of Family, Species, Lifestyle, Habitat, and Value

Salmon: A Complete Overview of the Family, Species, Lifestyle, Habitat, and Value. Salmon is not a single species of fish, but a general term for an entire group of valuable predatory fish in the salmon family (Salmonidae). In everyday speech and in stores, the word "salmon" usually refers to either Atlantic salmon (trout) or one of the Pacific species—pink salmon, chum salmon, sockeye salmon, coho salmon, or chinook salmon. However, in the full sense, salmonids include dozens of species, from small whitefish (whitefish, omul, muksun, peled) to true giants (taimen, chinook salmon). All of them have high-quality meat, large caviar, and unique flavor characteristics.

Salmon are fish that can live in both saltwater and freshwater rivers and lakes. Most species are migratory: they are born in rivers, grow up in the sea, and return to freshwater to spawn. It is this ability to migrate extensively that makes them so valuable in commercial and sport fishing.

Main types of salmon

The salmon family is extremely diverse. Here are the most well-known and commercially exploited members:

• Pink salmon are the most abundant Pacific salmon. They reach a length of up to 70–80 cm and typically weigh 1.2–2.5 kg. During spawning, males develop a distinctive hump on their backs. Their flesh is light pink, and their eggs are large (up to 8 mm).
• Sockeye salmon are distinguished by their bright red flesh. They reach a length of up to 80 cm. Their caviar is smaller than chum salmon's (up to 5 mm). There is a freshwater form, the dwarf sockeye, which measures up to 30 cm.
• Coho salmon are silver salmon. They reach 80–90 cm in length and weigh up to 6–8 kg. During spawning, males develop beak-shaped jaws. The meat is very tender and fatty.
• Chinook salmon are the largest Pacific salmon, reaching lengths of up to 1.8 meters and weighing up to 60–70 kg or more. Their meat is considered one of the most delicious and nutritious of all salmon.
• The taimen is the largest freshwater predator in its family. It grows up to 2 meters in length and weighs up to 80–100 kg. It lives exclusively in freshwater and does not migrate to the sea. Ages of up to 50–55 years are common in pristine rivers.
• The masu salmon is a coastal Pacific species. It reaches 65–70 cm in length and weighs up to 8 kg.
• Muksun is a northern whitefish species. It grows up to 80 cm in length and weighs up to 8–10 kg. The meat is very fatty and tender.
• Omul is a famous Baikal and northern species. Average weight is 0.5–1 kg, but specimens up to 3–4 kg have been observed.
• The whitefish is a rare species with white meat. It grows up to 1.2 m in length and weighs up to 14 kg. It is second only to the sturgeon in value.

On the Putorana Plateau, the salmon family is primarily represented by freshwater species—taimen, lenok, Arctic char, and whitefish. Thanks to the icy-clear water, extremely high oxygen levels, and the virtually complete absence of humans, these fish reach remarkable sizes and ages here, which are already rare in other regions.

What is the difference between salmon and salmon?

Salmon is a specific species, the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Salmon is the general name for the entire family Salmonidae.

Main differences:

• Salmon belongs to the Atlantic group, salmon are both Atlantic and Pacific species.
• Salmon can spawn several times during their life (up to 4–5), while Pacific salmon (chum salmon, pink salmon, sockeye salmon, coho salmon, and chinook salmon) die after the first spawning.
• Salmon is larger than most Pacific species (up to 40–50 kg in historical catches), but is smaller than Chinook salmon and taimen.
• Salmon meat is pink, fatty, and very tender. Pacific salmon also have red meat, but each has its own distinct color and flavor:
• sockeye salmon have a bright red, almost crimson, dense and elastic
• Coho salmon has a pinkish-red color, very tender, silky, and melts in your mouth
• pink salmon has a pale pink, light, looser and more watery texture

Salmon is farmed on a massive scale in marine cages in Norway, Chile, Scotland, and Canada. Wild salmon in Russia are found in the rivers of the Kola Peninsula, Karelia, and the White and Barents Seas.

Salmon size

Sizes within the salmon family vary greatly:

• Medium species - gorbusha (up to 70-80 cm, 1.5-4 kg), keta (up to 1 m, 4-8 kg), nerka (up to 80 cm, 3-6 kg), kizhuch (up to 90 cm, 6-8 kg).
• Large species are Chinook salmon (up to 1.8 m, 60–70 kg+), taimen (up to 2 m, 80–100 kg+).

On the Putorana Plateau, the largest salmonids are taimen and lenok. Here, they reach remarkable sizes (taimen up to 50–70 kg, lenok up to 8–10 kg) precisely due to ideal conditions: icy water, high oxygen levels, abundant food, and the almost complete absence of humans.

Salmon spawning

Spawning is a key event in the life of salmon. Most species return to the river where they were born.

• Pacific salmon (pink, chum, sockeye, coho, chinook, and masu salmon) spawn once in their lifetime and die immediately after spawning.
• Atlantic salmon and some char (including the common char) can spawn multiple times.

Spawning occurs in the fall at low water temperatures (1–10°C). The female digs a nest in the pebble bottom with her tail and lays eggs in batches. The male fertilizes them. After filling the nest, the fish often guards the eggs for up to 2–3 weeks.

Amount of caviar:

• pink salmon - 1-2.5 thousand eggs
• chum salmon - 3-7 thousand
• coho salmon - 3-5 thousand
• Chinook salmon - up to 10-14 thousand
• taimen - 5-20 thousand (depending on the size of the female)

The eggs are large (4–8 mm) and develop over 3–6 months. The fry hatch in the spring, feed on plankton, and then migrate to the sea (in migratory species).

On the Putorana Plateau, taimen and lenok spawn in September and October in the upper reaches of rivers and lake tributaries. Thanks to the pristine, icy water and the absence of pollution, the survival rate of eggs and juveniles here is one of the highest in the world.

Salmon habitats

Pacific salmon live in the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean and North Atlantic. They enter the following rivers to spawn:

• Kamchatka
• Sakhalin
• Kuril Islands
• Primorye
• Amur River
• Chukotka, Kolyma, Indigirka

Atlantic salmon (salmon) lives in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, and enters the rivers of Europe, the Kola Peninsula, Karelia, the White Sea, and the Barents Sea to spawn.

Salmon lifestyle

Salmon are predators. Juveniles feed on insect larvae, crustaceans, and worms. Adults feed on small fish, squid, and shrimp. During spawning, most Pacific species stop feeding completely—their digestive systems atrophy.

In the sea, salmon stay in the upper layers, often near the surface, in schools. In the river, they stay near the bottom, in holes, and behind rocks.

Life cycle of salmon

Salmonids are a group of fish with a highly diverse and distinctive lifestyle. Their behavior, diet, migrations, and life cycle are so unique that salmon have become a symbol of strength, tenacity, and the connection between sea and river. Most species of the Salmonidae family are anadromous, meaning they combine two completely different worlds: the saltwater sea and the freshwater river. This duality defines their entire way of life.

Freshwater stage (juveniles and first years)

Almost all salmonids begin their lives in a river or stream. After spawning, the eggs develop in nests on a pebble bottom for two to six months (depending on the species and water temperature). The fry hatch in the spring, initially feeding on the remains of their yolk sacs, then switching to zooplankton, insect larvae, small crustaceans, and worms.

In the river, young salmon live from 1 to 5 years (different species).

• Pink salmon - 1-2 years
• Chum salmon - 1-3 years
• Sockeye salmon – 1–3 years
• Coho salmon – 1–3 years
• Chinook salmon – 1–5 years
• Taimen - all life (freshwater species, does not migrate to the sea)

Juveniles inhabit tributaries, shallow water, pits, and under rocks and snags. They are very cautious, hiding from predators and the current. During this period, they feed on mayfly larvae, stoneflies, caddisflies, small crustaceans, and occasionally the eggs of other fish. In the river, the juveniles grow slowly, but gain strength and physiologically prepare for life in saltwater.

Crossing into the sea (slope)

Between the ages of 1 and 5 years (depending on the species), juvenile salmon undergo a complex physiological transformation called smoltification. This is the process of adaptation to saltwater:

• the color changes - the body becomes silvery
• the salt content in the blood increases
• the shape of the fins and scales changes
• osmoregulation is enhanced

After smoltification, the fish migrate to the sea (usually in spring and summer). This is the most dangerous time in a salmon's life—up to 90% of juveniles die at this stage from predators, currents, disease, and stress.

Marine feeding

Salmon spend between one and seven years at sea (depending on the species). This is the period of most intense growth and weight gain. At sea, the fish live in the upper layers of water (0–50 m), often near the surface, in areas of high biological productivity.

Diet at sea:

• small schooling fish (capelin, sand lance, herring, smelt, juveniles of other species)
• squid and small cephalopods
• shrimp, krill and other crustaceans
• sometimes plankton

Salmon in the sea live in huge schools, migrate long distances (sometimes thousands of kilometers), feed very actively, and grow rapidly. It is at sea that the fish reach their maximum weight and condition.

• Pink salmon - 1-2 years at sea
• Chum salmon - 2-4 years
• Sockeye salmon – 2–4 years
• Coho salmon – 2–4 years
• Chinook salmon – 3–6 years

Taimen is an exception: it remains in fresh water its entire life and does not have a marine stage.

Return to spawning grounds

When salmon reach sexual maturity, they begin their migration back to the rivers. The fish return to the river where they were born—a phenomenon called "homing."

Migration begins in the summer and fall, several months before spawning. The fish travel hundreds and thousands of kilometers against the current, negotiating rapids, waterfalls, and other obstacles. During this period, they almost completely stop feeding—their digestive system atrophies, and all their energy is devoted to migration and the maturation of their reproductive organs.

In the river, salmon change color:

• pink salmon - males acquire a hump, the body darkens
• sockeye salmon - the whole body turns crimson red
• Coho salmon - males develop a hook on their jaws
• chum salmon - the body turns purple, the jaws become crooked
• taimen - the color darkens, red spots and stripes appear

Spawning and completion of the cycle

Spawning occurs in the fall in the upper reaches of rivers at temperatures of 1–10°C. The female digs a nest with her tail in the pebble bottom and lays eggs in batches. The male fertilizes them. After filling the nest, the fish often guards the eggs for up to 2–3 weeks.

Pacific salmon (pink, chum, sockeye, coho, and Chinook salmon) die immediately after spawning—this is their biological characteristic. Atlantic salmon and some char (including the common char ) can survive and spawn multiple times.

Methods of salmon fishing

Salmon are among the strongest, most active, and cunning fish, making salmon fishing one of the most exciting and technically challenging in both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Each species has its own unique behavior, speed, strength, and bait preferences, but the general principles of fishing remain similar. Salmon are caught year-round, but the most exciting and productive periods are the mass spawning runs (summer and fall) and the periods of active feeding before and after spawning.

Below are the most effective and popular methods for catching salmon, taking into account different species and conditions.

1. Spinning is the main and most versatile method

Spinning is used in rivers, the sea, and large lakes. It's the most popular method among recreational and competitive anglers.

• Tackle:
  • Rod 2.7–3.6 m, test 20–80 g (for medium-sized rivers), 50–150 g (for large rivers and the sea)
  • Reel 4000–8000, powerful, with good friction
  • Braided line 0.18–0.35 mm (depending on fish size and conditions)
  • Leader - fluorocarbon 0.35-0.60 mm or metal (in pike areas)
• Lures:
  • Spoons – 20–80 g (Kuusamo Professor, Kuusamo Rasanen, Blue Fox Lucius, Mepps Syclops)
  • Spinnerbaits – No. 4–6 (Mepps Black Fury, Blue Fox Vibrax, Myran)
  • Minnow wobblers 9–15 cm (Rapala X-Rap, Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow, Salmo Hornet, Salmo Slider)
  • Silicone on a heavy jig head (8–40 g) — ripper, twister, vibrotail
  • Large streamer flies on a jig head
• Technique:
  • In the river - uniform wiring along the bottom, step-by-step, twitching, stop-and-go
  • At sea - trolling or uniform wiring with deepening
  • The bite is sharp, often hitting your hand. The hookset is instant and powerful. The landing is forceful—the salmon jerks, leaps, and goes with the current.

On the Putorana Plateau, spinning is the main method for catching taimen and lenok. The best lures are large spoons weighing 40–100 grams (Kuusamo Professor, Blue Fox Lucius), heavy minnow wobblers measuring 12–18 cm, and jigs with silicone bait. The fish are found in holes, under steep banks, behind boulders, and in waterfall outlets. The bites are powerful, but landing the fish is very difficult—the taimen often hide in snags or under rocks.

2. Fly fishing is the most sporty and aesthetic method

Fly fishing is especially effective on mountain rivers, riffles and in the upper reaches.

• Tackle:
  • Single-handed rod class 9–11 (for medium and large rivers)
  • Two-handed rod, class 10–13 (for large rivers and powerful fish)
  • Floating, intermediate, and sinking cords (depending on depth and current)
  • Undergrowth 2–3 m, leader 0.35–0.60 mm
• Lures:
  • Wet flies and nymphs size 8–14
  • Streamers 8–15 cm (Zonker, Woolly Bugger, Clouser Minnow)
  • Dry flies (Adams, Elk Hair Caddis) - for surface fishing
  • Large Fancy Flies (Intruder, Tube Fly)
• Technique:
  • Classic upstream cast followed by floating of the fly
  • Swing — casting across the current, the fly floats in an arc
  • Strip - short cord suspenders
  • The hook is instantaneous, the fish is played using the friction and fingers.

On the Putorana Plateau, fly fishing is ideal for catching lenok and char in riffles and channels. The best flies are 8-12 cm streamers and wet flies in sizes 10-14. The fish are very wary, so thin leaders and precise presentation are essential.

3. Trolling is the most productive method in the sea and on large lakes

Trolling is used at sea, in estuaries and on large lakes (for example, on Baikal, Ladoga, Onega).

• Tackle:
  • Rod 2.1–3 m, test 30–100 g
  • Multiplier reel or power spinning reel
  • Braid 0.25–0.40 mm
  • Downriggers, planers, or heavy wobblers
• Lures:
  • Wobblers 10–20 cm (Rapala Magnum, Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow, Salmo Hornet)
  • Spoons 40–120 g
  • Silicone fish on a heavy jig head
• Technique:
  • Speed 2–5 km/h (for Pacific species 3–4 km/h)
  • Wiring depth: 2–10 m
  • The bite is felt as a strong blow or pull - the hook is sharp

On the Putorana Plateau, trolling is used on large lakes (Lama, Keta, and Khantayskoye) to catch taimen and large lenok. The best lures are heavy spoons (60–120 g) and large wobblers (12–18 cm).

Nutritional value of salmon

Salmon meat is a source of high-quality protein (18–22 g/100 g), healthy omega-3 fats, vitamins D, B12, A, E, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and iodine. Caloric value is 120–200 kcal/100 g, depending on the type and fat content.

Salmon is beneficial for the heart, blood vessels, brain, immune system, skin, hair, and vision. It is recommended for anemia, high cholesterol, depression, and recovery from illness.

On the Putorana Plateau, the meat of taimen, lenok, and char is especially valuable—it is extremely clean, fatty, and rich in nutrients thanks to its natural diet and lack of pollution.

Conclusion

Salmon are at the top of the food chain in northern waters. Unlike the freshwater giants of the Putorana Plateau—taimen, lenok, and char—which reach remarkable sizes in crystal-clear rivers and lakes thanks to the pristine environment and abundant natural food, Pacific and Atlantic salmon rule the seas and rivers, where their millions-strong schools, powerful spawning runs, and role in the ecosystem remain unrivaled sights in the wild.