Raw salmon. Biography of sea fish pink salmon photo video

Distinctive feature site about animals Zverey.Ru is considered the appearance of articles about a variety of fish. So today we will talk about commercial fish, which many people love for its taste. This is pink salmon. You will learn more about what pink salmon looks like, its description, characteristics of weight, length and lifespan, as well as spawning time.

We will also tell what is the difference between male and female salmon what species of fish it belongs to and who, except for humans, loves to eat pink salmon and in which rivers of Russia it is found.

General description and characteristics of pink salmon

Pink salmon is an anadrom of the salmon family. It lives mainly in cold waters (feels especially comfortable at +10 °C, death occurs at temperatures above +25 °C). It is one of the most common varieties of salmon. Inhabits Asian and American coasts Pacific Ocean. In our country, these are mainly the shores of the Arctic Ocean, most often limited to the Bering Strait on the one hand and Peter the Great Bay on the other, but it can also go south. There is a chance to meet off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, in the region of Sakhalin Island and to the east up to the islands of Japan. Spawning comes to the rivers from the Yamal-Nenets autonomous region to the Murmansk region and further into the rivers of Norway, Sweden. It can often be found in Amguem, as well as in such rivers as the Kolyma, Indigirka, Yana and Lena, sometimes it enters the Amur.

Male and female pink salmon: similarities and differences

Knowing how a male pink salmon differs from a female does not hurt, because the female gives caviar. Below is a photo of a male and a female and shows how they differ. In short, then pink salmon female:

1. smaller than male (not always);
2. meat is less fatty (you can find out when you try it);
3. not as distinguished in appearance as the male;
4. the female pink salmon's head is smaller than the male's;
5. kind of more "friendly" (explained as best they could).

And now the description pink salmon male and its difference from the female:

1. the male is larger than the female, but there are exceptions - you should not be guided only by this sign;
2. the meat of the male has more fat;
3. stand out for their bright appearance (in many animals, males are brighter than females);
4. "predatory muzzle" - take a look at the photo and understand;
5. elongated jaws, teeth more visible than in the female;
6. hump.

Pink salmon is often called pink salmon. The fish is noticeable among its relatives - it has very small scales. A feature of this species is a strong change in the color of the scales when the fish reaches puberty. So, if after birth it has a silver-white color with small spots on the tail, then on the way from the sea to the river the body becomes silver-brown, the body becomes covered with spots, the color of the fins and head reaches almost black.

The appearance also changes greatly - in males, after the onset of puberty, a hump appears (hence the name - pink salmon). Both males and females have elongated jaws, large teeth and a hook above the lower lip. After spawning, the fish becomes greyish-white with a yellowish-white (sometimes greenish) belly. Like all salmonids, pink salmon has another fin between its back and tail. Yet hallmarks of this fish are a large white mouth and no teeth on the tongue.

Pink salmon varieties

There are no biological divisions into subspecies in pink salmon, but there are morphological and biochemical differences between geographically separated herds, which makes it possible to assume the existence of self-reproducing groups within this species. There are also genomic differences between individuals born in even and odd years. This is most likely due to the two-year cyclical life of an individual.

Length, weight and other characteristics of pink salmon

Pink salmon is a fairly small fish. It reaches in length no more than sixty centimeters, and weighing no more than two and a half kilograms. Males are usually slightly larger than females. Interestingly, in years of population growth, fish tend to be smaller than in years of declining numbers. Lives in sea water for about one and a half years, although biennial specimens can occasionally be found. The fish grows very quickly and a year and a half after the birth is ready to spawn.

Pink salmon spawning

Pink salmon spawns once, and at the end of spawning, it dies, possibly due to the fact that the path from the waters of habitat to the waters of spawning is very difficult, and nature does not provide forces for the way back. This species of fish has a well-developed ability to return to its native river backwaters for spawning, although it can “wander” into “foreign” expanses. Spawns in August, arrives in fresh rivers in July. Caviar puts in the soil with a sufficient amount of pebbles and sand. It lays eggs in specific "nests": with the help of its tail it makes a small hole at the bottom and throws eggs there. Such nests are most often made by a female, while males at this time often arrange “wars” for the right to fertilize, and after hatching the eggs, the winning male fertilizes the eggs with milk, and at the end of the process, the fertilized eggs are buried.

The withdrawal of "larvae" occurs in November, for about six months they live in their "nest", in May they leave it and swim to the sea. Pink salmon, with its small size, is quite prolific - it throws up to two and a half thousand eggs. Pink salmon caviar medium size, diameter reaches half a centimeter. After spawning, death occurs: the most weakened individuals die right near the place of "nesting", others are blown away by the stream, and they die closer to the mouth. Dead fish accumulate at the bottom and banks of water bodies (this is a phenomenon Far East called snenka), which attracts a huge number of gulls, crows, and various scavengers.

Pink salmon is not one of the most expensive types of red fish, but this in no way makes its meat less useful than salmon and Pacific trout, so beloved by everyone. But what exactly is valuable in this fish, in which cases it should definitely be included in your diet, and in which it is better to refrain from this dish, as well as how to cook pink salmon correctly, not everyone knows.

Calorie content and chemical composition

For clarity, information on the chemical composition of pink salmon is presented in the form of a table. The data given in it are based on 100 g of raw fish fillets.

Did you know? The term "red" we usually call fish, the meat of which has a pink or orange color (salmon, trout, pink salmon). However, in fact, this concept includes three groups of fish that are especially valuable and tasty, namely: sturgeon, salmon and white-pink salmon. At the same time, not only all sturgeon without exception, but also some salmon (for example, nelma or some types of trout) have a white meat color, and the word “red” in this case is a synonym for the word “beautiful” and has nothing to do with color.

Useful properties of the product:

• eating only 100 g of pink salmon, you can fully satisfy daily requirement the body in the most valuable omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins D and B12, as well as in such an essential amino acid as tryptophan (necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system);
• 150 g of pink salmon contains a daily dose of selenium - a trace element that our body needs in very small quantities, but no less important, especially considering that it is present in a very limited number of products;
• to replenish the reserves of vitamins B3 and B6, it is enough to eat 200 g of pink salmon.

Beneficial features

Main value oily sea ​​fish, especially living in cold waters (namely, pink salmon belongs to this category), are polyunsaturated fatty acids, primarily omega-3.

Important! People who suffer from cardiovascular diseases should increase the consumption of foods containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids by at least one and a half times, and even better - twice.

Unlike other types of fats (including saturated, as well as monounsaturated and considered less useful polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids), omega-3s have the following beneficial properties:

• remove “bad” cholesterol from the body, thereby preventing obesity and various cardiovascular pathologies, in particular, thrombosis and strokes;
• perform the function of an antioxidant - bind free radicals, which are also one of the main causes of heart attacks and strokes;
• normalize blood pressure;
• have a beneficial effect on the joints, protecting cartilage tissue from premature destruction;
• contribute to the restoration of cells and tissues;
• have anti-inflammatory properties;
• stabilize the work of the brain and nervous system;
• improve blood circulation;
• strengthen immunity.

But the problem is that residents of countries far from the sea consume omega-6s ten times more than omega-3s. And when you consider that due to the high price of oily sea fish is becoming less affordable, this ratio is constantly increasing.

Important! In red caviar, the ratio of twoacids is 1:100 in favor of omega-3.

Since pink salmon contains three times more of the most beneficial omega-3s than the less valuable omega-6s, there is no doubt how important it is to indulge in this wonderful fish at least once in a while. It should also be noted that despite the very high content of these fatty acids in pink salmon, you should not be afraid of their overdose, because valuable red fish is hardly present on our table every day.

For women

In addition to the general beneficial properties of pink salmon for the human body, one can single out special qualities that are important for women and men.
So, the fair sex will be interested to know that pink salmon:

• despite the high fat content, it is a dietary product and is completely safe for the waist (of course, if you use it in moderation);
• stimulates cell regeneration and thus slows down the aging process;
• stimulates reproductive function;
• beneficial effect on the condition of the skin and hair;
• remarkably calms the nerves, prevents the development of depression, insomnia, anxiety and fear, improves mood;
• normalizes the work of the genitourinary system;
• restores the balance of thyroid hormones, prevents the development of pathologies of the endocrine system.

For men

Pink salmon will help men become more energetic, active and strong, and will also have a very beneficial effect on their sexuality. In particular, she has the ability to:

• improve memory;
• increase efficiency, fill the body with vitality;
• increase potency;
• to increase the activity of spermatozoa.

Benefit and harm to the body

The effect of pink salmon on the body largely depends on how it was prepared. It is best to eat boiled or baked fish, but canned fish or smoked fillets are quite acceptable. The most important thing is not so much the specific method of cooking fish, but the observance technological process during processing and, of course, high-quality and fresh raw materials.

Canned

Few people can enjoy freshly caught pink salmon, since the habitat of this fish is very limited. Most often, it ends up on the table in the form of canned food. And this is not to be feared. Of course, heat treatment destroys a large number of vitamins and other useful substances, but there are pleasant exceptions. Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids in canned pink salmon are completely preserved. The same applies to elements such as calcium and magnesium, as well as many amino acids.

Important! Modern technologies allow you to save in the process of conservation even those useful material that would be lost when cooking fish at home.

The danger of this type of processing lies in the fact that if the manufacturer is dishonest, canned fish can cause such a dangerous, and in the absence of an antidote and a fatal disease, like botulism. In no case should you eat the contents of swollen cans of canned food, as well as the product after the expiration date. In addition, when purchasing canned pink salmon, you should always carefully study the composition of the product - in particular, the list of additives that the manufacturer used as preservatives or flavor enhancers.
Another unpleasant feature of canned food is its high content of salt and oil. Fortunately, pink salmon is often canned in own juice; there should be no oil in such a product, only fish and a small amount of salt. It is worth noting that this method of canning practically does not increase the calorie content of fish. 100 g of canned pink salmon contains 136 kcal, that is, even less than raw fillet.

salty

Another great way to harvest fish for relatively long-term storage is salting. The calorie content of such a product, however, is slightly higher: 100 g already contains about 169 kcal, but most of the useful components, given the lack of heat treatment, will be preserved in the finished product. Subject to the technology (and you can salt pink salmon yourself) and using it in moderation, this cooking option is no worse than boiling and baking.

Smoked

As a result of smoking, the calorie content of pink salmon increases more significantly - up to almost 200 kcal per 100 g. Many useful components, including omega-3 fatty acids, are preserved in smoked fish, and yet this cooking method makes pink salmon a very undesirable product for many diseases and diseases. states.

Important! Experts from the Australian Cancer Center (Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center) have found that liquid smoke used when smoking meat and fish has a stimulating effect on the p53 protein, which is sometimes called the "guardian of the genome", since it is he who is the body's main defender against cancer. Approximately half of atypical cells have mutations in the p53 gene. Therefore, the assertion that excessive consumption of smoked meats can lead to the development of cancer is scientifically proven.

Smoked meats often contain other dangerous chemical additives. In addition, they irritate the gastric mucosa, adversely affect the entire digestive system and can cause allergic reactions. Thus, smoked pink salmon can be eaten, but not for everyone and in small quantities.

caviar, milk

Everyone knows about the benefits of red caviar. Caviar contains all the beneficial substances that are present in appropriate form fish, and the content of some of them may even be higher (primarily for omega-3 fatty acids). But red caviar is a product of salting, so you should definitely not abuse it. Nutritionists recommend limiting yourself to a few teaspoons of caviar at a time. Particular care should be taken when using the product for those who suffer from edema.

Salmon milt, like their caviar, is very rich in omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, the protein contained in them contains protamines, which are extremely useful in certain diseases, in particular, in type 1 diabetes, since they slow down the absorption of insulin. Thus, if milt is present in the acquired pink salmon carcass, they should definitely not be thrown away.

Is it possible to eat

There are not so many contraindications for pink salmon. But it is still worth mentioning the features of its use in some cases separately.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

A pregnant woman and a nursing mother should definitely include pink salmon or other red fish in the diet, for which there are specific reasons:

• red fish helps prevent postpartum depression - a very unpleasant and fairly common phenomenon;
• both during pregnancy and after the birth of a child, it is very important for a woman to remain calm, sleep well, be in a good mood, be fresh and active - all this is greatly facilitated by the use of pink salmon;
• childbirth is the strongest stress for a woman's body, so at this moment it's time to think about prolonging youth and attractiveness - which means eating foods containing vitamins and antioxidants;
• the dietary properties of pink salmon will help a young mother quickly and without exhausting starvation restore weight after childbirth;
• during pregnancy and breastfeeding, women very often suffer from constipation, and pink salmon helps to improve intestinal motility;
• the minerals that make up the red fish are absolutely necessary for the expectant and young mother, because a huge supply of these substances is spent on the development of the baby, and the woman’s body is supplied with them “according to the residual principle”, as a result of which they very often experience a shortage.

Did you know? It has been proven that regular consumption of red fish by a woman during pregnancy minimizes the risk of a baby developing a disease such as bronchial asthma. In addition, the children of such women are distinguished by an earlier and more pronounced development of mental abilities.

When losing weight

The fish diet, consisting in the maximum possible replacement of meat in your diet with fish, is considered one of the most effective ways get rid of excess weight without causing harm to your health. Best deal with overweight cold-water fish help, that is, pink salmon in this sense is an excellent choice.

But still, it should be borne in mind that pink salmon, along with trout, horse mackerel, tuna, sea ​​bass and some others, refers to medium-calorie species, while the inhabitants of the deep sea with a calorie content of no more than 100 kcal per 100 g are best suited for weight loss.
Thus, it is possible to use pink salmon as a diet food, but it should not be abused, replacing it with more “lean” cod, saffron cod or hake. And of course, for those who want to lose weight, dishes from smoked fish are absolutely not suitable, and salty is also not suitable. in the best way will affect the process of getting rid of extra pounds.

With pancreatitis, gastritis

Gastritis and pancreatitis are not contraindications to the use of pink salmon - moreover, this type of fish, considered dietary, is great for people suffering from problems with the digestive system.

Nevertheless, in addition to the quite obvious ban on the use of smoked and salty, in the acute form of the disease, it should also be excluded from the diet. fried fish. During this period, only boiled or stewed pink salmon, as well as steamed fish, can be on the table.

With diabetes

According to many endocrinologists and nutritionists, salmon are among the ten most useful fish for diabetes. These varieties contain a large amount of easily digestible protein, as well as vitamins and minerals, which are absolutely necessary for any diabetic. Moreover, diabetes is quite compatible with the use of fried pink salmon, as well as grilled dishes from it.

But it is undesirable to eat salted and smoked fish, since both methods of preparation involve an increased salt content in the final product, and table salt in diabetes, as you know, should be consumed in minimal doses - no more than 12 g per day.

Did you know? The Indians inhabiting the North American mainland believe that salmon is the very first product that was eaten by man. And this is not surprising: it was salmon species of fish that were the main food of the natives who lived on the northern coast of the Pacific Ocean and the rivers flowing nearby.

How to cook pink salmon at home: recipes

The two most simple prescription cooking this fish - baking and salting.

In the oven

To prepare the dish you will need:

• pink salmon carcass (fresh, chilled or frozen);
• 1 lemon;
• onions - one large onion or two medium ones;
• one processed cheese;
• 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise;
• salt, pepper - to taste.

Course of action:

Video: delicious baked pink salmon

How to salt (salt)

Salting pink salmon is also not at all difficult. For this you will need:

• pink salmon carcass or fillet (frozen fish is not suitable for these purposes, it is better to take chilled);
• black peppercorns - 6-10 pieces;
• black pepper allspice - 3-4 pieces;
• - 1–2 pieces;
• coarse salt - 4 tablespoons;
• sugar - 4 tablespoons;
• water (it is better to take purified) - 1 liter.

Course of action:

Video: salting pink salmon in brine The advantage of this recipe is that there is no need to remove the bones and skin from the fish. But if such painstaking work does not scare you, you can salt the fillet - in this case, the fish will be ready in 10–12 hours. Pink salmon has all the valuable qualities of salmon fish, while it is somewhat cheaper.

Important! If the fish is large, the amount of brine can be increased to 1.5 liters- accordingly, the amount of salt, sugar and spices increases by one and a half times.

Such a product is shown to almost everyone - men, women, children and the elderly. The only reason to refuse wonderfully tasty and useful fish, especially in boiled or stewed form, is an individual intolerance, there are no other restrictions on its use.

The body of pink salmon is covered with small scales and painted in silver color, on the caudal fin there are many small dark spots. This coloration is typical for organisms living in the sea.

In the river, the color of the fish changes: dark spots appear on the back, sides and head, during the spawning period the whole body becomes brown, except for the belly, which remains white, and the fins and head remain black. Appearance males change greatly: a huge hump grows on the back, the jaws lengthen and curve, strong teeth appear on them. Usually a slender and beautiful fish takes on an ugly appearance.

Pink salmon belongs to small salmon, its size is small, only 68 cm in length, but a small size is compensated by a large number of individuals.

The habitat is quite extensive: on the mainland North America pink salmon enters all rivers, from the Sacramento River in the south to Alaska in the north. Entry of this species of fish into the Arctic Ocean is also observed, the appearance of pink salmon in the Colville and Mackenzie rivers has been repeatedly indicated, and on the Asian mainland - in the Kolyma, Indigirka, Lena and Yana rivers. On the Asian coast of the Pacific Ocean, pink salmon finds spawning grounds in rivers that carry their waters to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Bering Sea. There is this type of fish in the Kuril and Commander Islands, Sakhalin, Hokkaido and the northern part of Hondo Island. In the south, pink salmon reaches Peter the Great Bay, although it is difficult to determine the southern border, since pink salmon is usually confused with salmon. For spawning upstream, schools of fish do not rise very high. Pink salmon enters the Amur in large numbers in June and rises up to the Ussuri River.

For spawning, pink salmon chooses places with more fast current and a bottom covered with rather large pebbles. The caviar of the fish is large, 5.5-8 mm in diameter, but it is pale in color and has a shell that is more durable than that of chum salmon eggs. Parents, laying eggs, die, and after 2-3 months, fry emerge from the eggs, remaining in the river until spring. Having reached 3-3.5 cm in length, in spring the juveniles roll into the sea.

At sea, it actively chooses more high-calorie food than chum salmon. The food of the chum salmon for the most part consists of 50% tunicates and pteropods, but the diet of pink salmon consists of small fish, crustaceans (50%) and fry (30%). Pink salmon grows and matures surprisingly quickly: after a run into the sea, it already returns to the rivers after 18 months to start spawning, lay eggs and die. There is evidence that most individuals of the pink salmon species reach sexual maturity in the third or fourth year of life. However, this information is contradictory. As sea catches show, in August only a few individuals remain in the sea, for some reason late in development.

Pink salmon and Sima are the most thermophilic species in the genus Oncorhynchus. Fish winter in those areas of the ocean where the temperature on the surface of the water never drops below 5 ° C. Favorable temperature regime also contributes to the rapid growth of fish.

The number of pink salmon, as a rule, fluctuates periodically. It has been established that in the rivers of Primorye the flow of fish in even years is insignificant, and in odd years pink salmon is in greater numbers. In the Amur River and on the western coast of Kamchatka, on the contrary, the largest catch of pink salmon is carried out in even years. Specialist L. S. Berg notes that such a periodicity is well explained by a two-year development cycle.

Unfavorable conditions, for example, overfishing or freezing of spawning grounds, will reduce the number of offspring, and after 18 months, flocks of pink salmon, when returning to the river, will give an insignificant amount of caviar, and the consequences of an ecological disaster, according to L. S. Berg, will be reflected in a number of generations . This is the most scientific explanation for the cyclical nature of catches; there are other assumptions, but there are too many discrepancies in them to be considered correct. It has been noted that with an increase in catching, the number of pink salmon recovers faster and the fluctuations in its cyclicity are less sharp. and pink salmon are valuable commercial fish. Dishes from this fish are so delicious that there is no person in the world who does not want to taste a piece of fried pink salmon. Therefore, its catch in Kamchatka is 80% of the total catch of salmon fish.

Pacific salmon, pink salmon and chum salmon have repeatedly tried to acclimatize in other areas the globe but all attempts were unsuccessful. In 1956, Sakhalin pink salmon caviar was transported to the rivers of the Murmansk coast. The fry that emerged from the eggs were released into the rivers flowing into the Barents and White Sea. Pink salmon fry did not take root in the new conditions; tried to apply top dressing and began to release already grown fry into the sea. In 1960 pink salmon returned en masse to the rivers to spawn. AT new environment habitat, it has become much fatter and larger. "Russian salmon", this is the name she received abroad, went to spawn in the rivers of Norway. But in subsequent years, the repeated spawning of pink salmon in the European north was quite insignificant. Canadians on the other side of the Atlantic successfully acclimatized pink salmon from the rivers of British Columbia to the Newfoundland region.

Pink salmon is a representative of the salmon species. Pink salmon is the second name of this fish. It occupies a special place in the fishery. This value is due to the presence of tender, nutritious and tasty meat in pink salmon.

Appearance

Pink salmon is the smallest of all salmon living in the Pacific Ocean. Medium individuals grow up to 64 centimeters in length with a body weight of up to 2 kilograms. Pink salmon females are significantly inferior in size to males. Not infrequently, fishermen came across specimens weighing up to 6 kilograms. The literature describes information that fishermen caught pink salmon, which weighed almost 7 kilograms and was 76 centimeters long (details in the photo).

Pink salmon has a slender torpedo-shaped body with a rather large head and a large mouth. The bone of the upper jaw extends beyond the posterior margins of the eyes. The fish has up to 15 gill rays and up to 33 gill rakers, which are very long and thin. The anal fin contains up to 16 branched rays; there is a distinct notch in the caudal fin. This fish is shown in more detail in the photo.

Pink salmon has small scales. The lateral line contains over 150 scales. The fish has a different color, which may vary depending on life cycle. In the very early age, river fry are silvery in color, with light sides and a warm back. Fry of pink salmon, in contrast to fry-marsh and other representatives of salmon species, do not have a protective coloration.

On the whole body, including on the fins, there are no stripes or spots. Pink salmon fry have translucent, colorless fins. The presence of dark spots appears in older individuals, when the fish begins to lead a marine life cycle. Pink salmon living in the sea has a typical pelagic coloration, with a silvery-steel general background.

At the time when pink salmon is preparing for the spawning period, it “dresses” in a wedding dress (details in the photo). The body is painted in all sorts of shades, ranging from green-brown to dark purple. In males, body proportions change greatly during this period. A hump grows on the back, the jaws are strongly bent and lengthened, the teeth increase. And females during the spawning period practically do not change the proportions of their bodies.

Distribution and habitats

Pink salmon can be found in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, in the area of ​​​​the American and Asian coasts. It enters the territory of our country during the spawning period, occurs in the rivers of the Bering Sea and goes south to Peter the Great Bay. Less commonly, pink salmon can be found in rivers that are tributaries of the Arctic Ocean. Fish swim in Amguema, Kolyma, Indigirka, Yana and Lena. In America, it is found on the coast of Alaska up to the Sacramento River.

In 2001, pink salmon was caught in the Pyasina River, near Pestsovy Island. On the Amur River, the fish rises quite low, and in the Ussuri River it is not found at all. Pink salmon was seen near Kamchatka, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands and in Japan, in the area of ​​the island of Hokkaido. The northern waters of the Pacific Ocean are especially rich in pink salmon. During feeding, the fish mixes with American and Asian stocks.

Diet

During the marine cycle of its life, pink salmon actively feeds, gaining body weight, thereby preparing for migration to spawning grounds. This is due to the fact that during the spawning period, this fish stops eating completely, which leads to a significant loss of mass. The pink salmon menu includes very high-calorie foods. Prefers to eat small fish.

Shellfish in the diet occupy a priority place. Thanks to this menu, this fish grows and matures very quickly. Already after a year and a half of life in sea ​​waters, she again returns to the rivers for sweeping the river and subsequent death. The larvae feed mainly on crustaceans and insects.

reproduction

The spawning period takes place in the summer-autumn period. Pink salmon begins to leave for the rivers in July, and spawning ends in September. As a rule, the fish goes to the places where it was born itself. Priority places for spawning are fast rivers with the presence of pebble-sandy soil.

Pink salmon spawns the largest of all salmon caviar, which reaches a diameter of up to 6 millimeters. The fecundity of pink salmon depends on its size. An average female can lay 1600 eggs. After 3 months, fry begin to hatch from the eggs, which remain in the rivers until the end of spring. In late May - early June, young individuals of pink salmon go to the seas.

Pink salmon is the smallest member of the salmon family. Thanks to its tender, nutritious and healthy meat, this fish has a very high commercial value. Distributed in the northern waters of the Pacific Ocean. During the spawning period, it goes into the rivers.

Fishing is always great, especially if the exciting process ends with a long-awaited catch. Going for valuable trophies, both professional fishermen and amateurs dream of catching one of the most common representatives of the salmon family - pink salmon. What does pink salmon look like, how are they affected by the seasons when pink salmon spawn, and what kind of gear should be used to return with the desired prey?

Of the entire huge family, it is the fish of this species that is the smallest representative in size - it rarely grows more than 40 cm. The weight is also not impressive - it does not exceed 2-5 kg, but there is information that a lucky fisherman caught a trophy specimen weighing 12 kg. You can meet a sea beauty not only in salt waters - not so long ago she was launched into freshwater lakes, where she successfully took root.

The color varies from location: while the fish is in the cold waters of the ocean, it has a gray tint with a blue tint. , which usually occurs in nearby rivers, becomes lighter. The color of the belly is white, but when pink salmon migrates to fresh water becomes yellowish. The scales are very small, easily removed.

The fins are short, there is also a “fatty” fin, rare for this species of fish. The head is slightly elongated, ending in a wide mouth. Description can be completed. hallmark which gave rise to the name. His pink salmon received thanks to males - it is they, unlike females, who have a large hump on their backs. Interestingly, the hump begins to grow only after being sent to spawn in fresh river waters.

The characteristics of the predator are similar, but there are several differences. Pink salmon is often compared, another popular and numerous member of the family. What is the difference between chum salmon and pink salmon? Main differences:

• size (keta is larger);
• coloring;
• caviar size (in pink salmon it is smaller);
• habits of fry (after birth, chum salmon babies immediately go to the open spaces of the ocean, in pink salmon, young growth remains in river reservoirs until they grow up);
• both chum salmon and pink salmon have beneficial features, but differ in taste (pink salmon meat is tougher, with a lot of calories).

Another different feature is that due to the prevalence of fish, its cost is much lower than other varieties, despite the fact that pink salmon and salmon are the same family.

Where does it live, the main diet of fish

Pink salmon is an inhabitant of the depths of the Pacific or Arctic Ocean. The spawning family goes to the rivers. Both in fresh waters and in salty waters, it tries to stay near the surface, avoids great depths and pits.

Photo 1. Pink salmon goes to rivers to spawn.

Interesting! AT sea ​​depths pink salmon does not return, because after spawning it stops feeding. Having laid eggs, the fish dies - the spawning time is the last stage of a short life.

The diet of a valuable family consists of fry, young small fish, and crustaceans. Since the fish grows quickly, they need a lot of food, so pink salmon goes hunting at any time of the day. Thanks to this feature, even a novice angler will be able to successfully catch a predator.

Features of predator behavior in different seasons of the year

Photo 2. In a wedding dress.

Pink salmon is a fish that spends most of its life in migration. In winter and autumn, it prefers to stay in sea waters. At the age of two years, it goes to spawn, which takes place in the month of August (in Russia, spawning time may vary - in Kamchatka it begins in July, in Sakhalin - in June). During a long journey, females and males lose their caution, feeding heavily, and become easy prey for fishermen and animals impatiently waiting for a fish school in the mouths of rivers.

Interesting! Until now, even scientists cannot find an explanation for the fact that pink salmon returns to spawn in the river where it was born. There are many hypotheses - the predator feels a familiar smell, the bottom (its features), the consistency or composition of the water.

Having reached their goal, the fish prepare to lay their eggs. The female digs a small hole with her fins, after fertilization she lays eggs in it, after which, together with the male, she closes the nest with sand and stones.

It takes about three months for the fry to appear, but young fish are in no hurry to go to salty reservoirs. Only with the advent of spring (by this period, pink salmon grows up to 3 cm), fry migrate in large schools into the sea. The path is long and difficult - most of the river and marine life prey on young fish. Until the next year, pink salmon feeds intensively, after which it returns along the already familiar path to breed and die.

Catching pink salmon: when to go hunting for a valuable predator, and what gear is better to use

You can catch pink salmon in the river only before spawning (it is found there from spring to mid-summer), and it goes easily both for spinning and. The bait is usually red caviar, rolled up with a tight tourniquet. Of the spinners for catching a predator, it is used, preferably in a bright color. reacts badly, preferring to swim past.

Important! You can make the bait more attractive for pink salmon simply - just attach it to the lure:

• bright feathers;
• threads;
• strips of colored plastic.

The preferred color, which representatives of the salmon family actively go for, is bright blue, purple, orange.

A feature of the bite of males is that the bite is fast, sometimes almost not felt. After hooking, there are few jerks - often only 1-2. Several times pink salmon can jump out of the water, but this rarely happens. It is much more difficult to catch a female, having fallen on a hook, she begins to rush about wildly, often breaking loose.

During spawning, it is impossible to catch a predator with a fishing rod or spinning rod - the fish completely stops feeding and does not respond to baits. You can use nets or a tee (the so-called cat), but this catching option is prohibited by law and is punishable as poaching.

Photo 3. Fly fishing is a catchy way for pink salmon.

Of great value is pink salmon, caught before spawning - the meat is elastic, has excellent taste qualities. After spawning, the fish becomes loose and tough; in cooking, you can use it only in the form of minced meat. It is rarely caught at this time.

Catching pink salmon is an entertaining process, and with the onset summer period Hundreds of professionals and amateurs go hunting for valuable prey. It doesn't matter if luck smiled, because the most important thing in fishing is to relax your soul and body, enjoying every minute.