| The great King Salmon (Oncorhynchus | | | | King Salmon return to spawn anywhere between |
| tshawytscha) is one of the most sought after | | | | two and seven years of age. They travel from |
| fish in Alaska, and for good reason. Alaskan King | | | | the ocean into the freshwater streams where |
| Salmon is the largest of all Pacific salmon and is | | | | they were born, a journey that is sometimes up |
| the state fish of Alaska. For anglers visiting | | | | to two thousand miles! After returning to |
| Alaska, King Salmon is the number one fish that | | | | freshwater, King Salmon are single minded and no |
| they want to catch. | | | | longer feed. Female salmon create nests in gravel |
| When you understand the King Salmon, you'll have | | | | and lay up to fourteen thousand eggs. |
| an easier time catching one. For example, knowing | | | | The difficult journey from the sea into freshwater |
| about the diet of Kings helps you to pick the right | | | | is exhausting and like all other Alaskan salmon |
| bait. Also, knowing when salmon spawning occurs | | | | species, King Salmon die after spawning. This is |
| will help you choose a great fishing spot during the | | | | partly due to the fact that King Salmon do not |
| right season. A big part of understanding Alaska's | | | | eat again when they enter freshwater, so they |
| King Salmon is knowing it's life cycle. | | | | must take all of the energy from their bodies to |
| The Life Cycle of Alaskan King Salmon | | | | spawn. |
| King Salmon are born in early Spring and live in | | | | Dead salmon do not go to waste however. The |
| nests made of gravel for weeks feeding off of | | | | bodies of King Salmon release rich nutrients back |
| the yolk sac. Once they're large enough, the small | | | | into the water creating a healthy ecosystem. |
| fry emerge from the gravel and begin feeding on | | | | Nutrients from the water help enrich the salmon |
| plankton and insects. King Salmon live in | | | | roe and fry. The salmon bodies also provide food |
| freshwater for about two years before making | | | | for freshwater organisms and other fish. Even |
| their way to the ocean. | | | | Alaskan trout are known to feed on dead King |
| Once the young adult salmon arrive in the ocean, | | | | Salmon. |
| they have a more diverse diet and more rapid | | | | The life of Alaska's King Salmon is complex and |
| pace of growth. In saltwater, King Salmon eat | | | | fascinating to anyone who fishes for salmon. Now |
| herring, squid, crustaceans and other sea life. While | | | | that you know about the life cycle of King |
| in the ocean, King Salmon develop physical traits | | | | Salmon, you are better equipped to catch one of |
| that help them survive, like silver sides and a | | | | your own. Happy fishing! |
| green-blue coloration on the back. | | | | |