Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) are also known as Red Salmon. This is the most valuable species to the Alaskan commercial salmon fishery. Young Sockeye Salmon mostly feed on freshwater plankton and so live in lake systems for up to three years before smolting. Maturing anadromous Sockeye Salmon will typically have spent two or three winters in the ocean. The latter are referred to as three-ocean fish and are larger than two-ocean fish. Sockeye jacks are much smaller one-ocean fish.

A female Sockeye Salmon digs her redd
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) digs her redd while her alpha male guards. Photographed in situ using a Canon 1Dx camera in a Seacam underwater housing.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Sea Sea internal correction lens Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate digging excavating fish behavior red salmon spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
A female Sockeye Salmon digs her redd while alpha male guards.
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) turns on her side to dig her redd while her alpha male guards downstream.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Fisheye lens underwater view of Sockeye Salmon
Fisheye lens underwater view of Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) migrating to their spawning grounds
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning pair turning in opposite directiosns reveal differences between male and female head profiles and nuptial coloration.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Inter-species sex
A male Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) spawns with a female Sockeye Salmon (O. nerka). Viable hybrids are possible between Pacific salmon species.
Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus keta Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate dog salmon red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon in the act of spawning.
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerla) in the act of spawning during the early summer in an Alaskan stream.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate fish behavior red salmon spawning spawning act spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Heads or tails?
Mature male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) looking for a mate in early autumn in an Alaskan stream.
Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate red salmon silver salmon underwater wild wild salmon
The arrival
Mature male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) looking for a mate in early autumn as fewer conspecifcs become availble to spawn with and coinciding with the arrival of numerous of Coho Salmon (O. kisutch).
Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate red salmon silver salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Early and late salmon arriving at spawning grounds
Mature Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) heading towards spawning in early autumn coinciding with the arrival of numerous of Coho Salmon (O. kisutch).
Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate red salmon silver salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Shafts of light in a forest stream illuminate a Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning pair. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Autumn Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Male Sockeye Salmon holding position over redd
Male Sockeye Salmon holding position over redd as two competing males approach and female is away (in background). Aspect ratio = 1:1.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon emerging from glacial water
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) emerging from glacial water. Gaping male signaling his dominance is at the lead. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning migration
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning migration. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Saddlebag Creek Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning migration
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning migration. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Saddlebag Creek Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Male Sockeye salmon digging displacement activity
Male Sockeye salmon digging displacement activity. Female in background. Aspect ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate displacement activity fish behavior male behavior male salmon digging red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning pair. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate fish behavior red salmon spawning spawning act spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning meele
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning meele. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate fish behavior male behavior red salmon spawning meele underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) probes her redd while a male guards. Aspect ratio = 4:5.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate fish behavior probing red salmon salmonography.com spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon female attacking a jack.
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female attacking a jack. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate aggression fighting fish behavior red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female excavates her redd as a male guards. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate digging excavating fish behavior red salmon salmonography.com spawning spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon female on female aggression
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) attacking a female who is excaving a redd too close to hers. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate aggression female behavior femalefemale interaction underwater fighting fish behavior red salmon salmonography.com spawning spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) pair spawning. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate fish behavior male behavior milt red salmon salmonography.com spawning spawning act spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) pair spawning. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate fish behavior red salmon spawning spawning act spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon jack courting
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) jack courting a female while no alpha male is present.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate fish behavior probing red salmon spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Rival male Sockeye Salmon
A male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) fends off an intruding male with the gape threat. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate aggression fighting fish behavior male behavior male threat posture red salmon salmonography.com threat posture underwater wild wild salmon
Female competition
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) fends off an intruding female with the gape threat. Underwater view in an Alaskan stream during early summer.
ASRM Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate aggression female behavior female threat posture femalefemale interaction femalefemale interaction underwater fighting fish behavior red salmon salmonography.com threat posture underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) pair spawning. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate red salmon salmonography.com underwater wild wild salmon
Male-male competition
A male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) fends off an intruding male with the gape threat. Underwater view in an Alaskan stream during early summer.
ASRM Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate aggression fighting fish behavior male aggression male behavior male threat posture red salmon salmonography.com threat posture underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning pair. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate red salmon salmonography.com underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawners
A entourage of Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) males following a female probing a redd site. Aspect ratio = 3:4.
Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate red salmon salmonography.com silver salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon on their spawning grounds
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) on their spawning grounds. Aspect ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Caddisfly larvae feeding on Sockeye Salmon carcass
Caddisfly larvae perched on a dorsal fin ray of the Sockeye Salmon carcass they are feeding on. Aspect ratio = 4:5.
Arthropoda Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Insect Invertebrate Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Phylum Arthropoda Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Trichoptera Vertebrate arthropod caddisfly larvae carcass red salmon salmon carcass underwater wild wild salmon
Spawning Sockeye Salmon
Spawning Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). Aspect ratio = 1:2.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon probing her redd as male stands by
Female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) probing her redd as her mate guards downstream. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate fish behavior probing red salmon salmonography.com spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon female
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) preparing to spawn. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) probes her redd as her mate guards downstream. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate fish behavior probing red salmon spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning in a tributary of Eyak Lake, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
Autumn Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate fish behavior red salmon salmonography.com spawning spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon in the act of spawning
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning in a tributary of Eyak Lake, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate fish behavior male behavior polygamy red salmon salmonography.com spawning spawning behavior underwater wild wild salmon
Snout up aggressive posture
Male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) challenging another male by raising his snout. Aspect ratio = 3:4..
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate aggression fish behavior red salmon salmonography.com threat posture underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) quivering (courtship) a female, which generates surface waves. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate aggression fish behavior red salmon salmonography.com threat posture underwater wild wild salmon
Male Sockeye Salmon combat
A Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) male attacking another. Aspect Raio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate aggression fighting fish behavior red salmon underwater wild wild salmon
Fighting Sockeye Salmon males
Fighting Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) males. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate aggression fighting fish behavior red salmon salmonography.com underwater wild wild salmon
Male Sockeye courtship behavior
A male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) defending his place with a female (at the far left) with a snout up aggressive posture. Aspect ratio = 1:2.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate aggression courtship fish behavior red salmon spawning behavior threat posture underwater wild wild salmon
Snout up aggressive posture
Male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) challenging another male by raining his snout. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate aggression fish behavior red salmon salmonography.com threat posture underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning in a tributary of Eyak Lake, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate red salmon salmonography.com underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning pair
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawning in a tributary of Eyak Lake, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate courtship fish behavior red salmon salmonography.com spawning spawning behavior spawning pair underwater wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon fry
Recently emerged Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka, Salmonidae) fry in Saddlebag Creek, Chugach National Forest, Copper River Delta, South Central Alaska.
Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phyllum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate fry red salmon underwater wild wild salmon