Pink Salmon
The Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is the smallest and most abundant species of Pacific salmon. Found throughout the North Pacific, this species is known for its biennial runs, where it returns to freshwater rivers to spawn. Pink Salmon are easily identified by their silver bodies, which develop a humpback in males during the spawning season. They are a key species for commercial fisheries and are prized for their delicate, flavorful meat.
Length~50 (max 76)
Weight~2 (max 7)
WaterFresh, brackish, salt
Water Temp5-25° F
Depth250 ft
- Other namesHumpback salmon
- Length~50 (max 76)
- Weight~2 (max 7)
- WaterFresh, brackish, salt
- Water Temp5-25° F
- Depth250 ft
Popular lures for Pink Salmon
Regulation for Pink Salmon
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Living Conditions
🐟 Habitat preferences
- Pink Salmon primarily inhabit coastal waters and the open ocean, migrating to freshwater rivers to spawn
- They prefer colder waters, staying close to shorelines and estuaries during their ocean phase
- Their diet mainly consists of plankton, small fish, and crustaceans, which they actively hunt in the open water
- During their spawning migration, they rely on rivers with gravel beds for successful egg deposition
♻️ Life cycle and mating behavior
- Pink Salmon have a strict two-year life cycle, with all members of a generation spawning simultaneously
- Spawning occurs in late summer to early autumn, with females laying eggs in gravel nests called redds
- After hatching, juveniles quickly migrate to the ocean, where they grow rapidly before returning to spawn
- Males develop a pronounced humpback and brighter coloration during the spawning season, signaling readiness to reproduce