Sockeye Salmon Fishing In Alaska
Sockeye salmon are a salmon species that is easily distinguished by its brilliant red color. The bright color is acquired through a high-krill/plankton diet. Sockeye salmon are a thrill to catch!
What to Know About Sockeye Salmon in Alaska
Basic Description: The sockeye salmon is an anadromous species of Pacific salmon. It is primarily red during spawning and can grow up to 84 cm in length and weight 2.3 to 7 kg. Juveniles will live in freshwater until they are ready to migrate to the ocean, over long distances that can be as much as 1,600 km. Sockeye salmon mostly eat zooplankton. This type of salmon is semelparous, meaning that they die after they spawn.
Physical Description: Sockeye salmon are sometimes called red or blueback salmon, due to their color. They are typically silver with a blue tint while they live in the ocean, but they turn red once they return to their spawning grounds. They can be up to 84 centimeters in length and weigh up to 15 pounds. Other distinguishing features include their long, serrated gill rakers that range from 30 to 40 in number, and their lack of a spot on the back or tail.
Season: From early June to late July.
Sockeye Salmon Fishing Charters in Kenai
When it comes to sockeye salmon fishing in Alaska, there’s no better place to fish than the Kenai Peninsula, and there’s no better fishing charter in Kenai than Kenai Kingpin.
Whether you’re a fishing professional or a newcomer to the sport, Kenai Kingpin is here to provide you with the trip of your dreams. With over a decade of experience in the industry, our staff is ready to help you set out on the fishing expedition of your choice.
With charters through multiple rivers and some of the best fishing guides in Kenai, Alaska, you’re right in the middle of the pure Alaskan wilderness. The pristine fishing is unmatched, and it’s waiting there for you. Contact Kenai Kingpin today and experience some of the best fishing you could have, anywhere!
- The word sockeye has been derived and anglicized from the Halkomelem language—the indigenous language of people who live in Canada's British Columbia—and it means "redfish."
- The sockeye salmon’s distinctive color comes from eating plankton and krill while in the ocean.
- Sockeye salmon actually use their sense of smell—known as “olfaction”—to find their home streams.
- A baby sockeye salmon is called a “fry.”