Find Your Next Spot
Sockeye salmon
Oncorhynchus nerka
Identification
Bright silver in the ocean, turning brilliant red with a green head during the spawning run.
Where It's Found
Pacific coast rivers tied to a lake system, since sockeye require a nursery lake for juvenile rearing — most abundant in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Fishing Notes
Notoriously reluctant to bite once in freshwater (they stop feeding to spawn) — small, brightly colored flies fished to trigger a reaction strike are the standard technique.
Gear for targeting Sockeye salmon
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Scientific Classification▾
Family
Salmonidae
Genus
Oncorhynchus
Order
Salmoniformes
Class
Actinopterygii
Phylum
Chordata
Kingdom
Animalia
Ready to go fishing?
Find a boat ramp near you and check state fishing regulations before you head out.
Angler & boater picksRESTCLOUD Telescoping Landing Net →PLUSINNO Fishing Accessories Kit →Sougayilang Telescopic Rod & Reel Combo →
Photography sourced from Wikimedia Commons contributors.
