Fish diurnal

Atlantic Salmon

Salmo salar

Known as the 'King of Fish,' the Atlantic salmon is a master of migration and a symbol of wild, clean waters. Witness their incredible journey from the deep ocean to the rocky headwaters of our northern rivers.

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Quick Identification

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Size

71-76 cm (28-30 inches) average, up to 100 cm (3.9 feet); weight 3.6-5.4 kg (8-12 lbs) average, up to 30 kg (66 lbs)

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Colors

Silvery sides with a white belly and dark blue-green back during ocean phase; bronze, brown, or reddish with dark spots during spawning

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Key Features

Small adipose fin located between the dorsal fin and tail
Small black spots primarily located above the lateral line
Slender, streamlined body with a slightly forked tail
Large mouth where the upper jaw extends to the rear edge of the eye

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6-9 AM, 4-7 PM (most active during dawn and dusk during migration)

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Season April-June (Spring run) and September-November (Autumn run)

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Diet In the ocean, adults eat small fish like herring, alewives, and capelin, along with crustaceans and squid. In freshwater, juveniles (parr) eat aquatic insects and larvae. Adult salmon typically stop eating once they enter freshwater to spawn.

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Habitat Cold, clean, well-oxygenated freshwater rivers with gravel bottoms for spawning; northern Atlantic coastal and open marine waters for maturation.

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Behavior

Atlantic salmon are renowned for their incredible life cycle, transitioning between freshwater and saltwater in a process called anadromy. They are famous "homers," using an acute sense of smell to return to the exact stream where they were hatched after spending several years maturing in the open ocean. Unlike many Pacific salmon species, Atlantic salmon are iteroparous, meaning they can potentially survive the spawning process and return to the ocean to spawn again in future years.

During their upstream migration, they exhibit remarkable physical prowess, leaping up waterfalls and over obstacles as high as 3 meters to reach well-oxygenated gravel beds. While they are solitary hunters in the ocean, they congregate in deep river pools during the spawning season. They are highly sensitive to water quality and temperature, making them excellent biological indicators of the overall health of an ecosystem.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the elusive Atlantic salmon requires a specialized approach, as your camera will likely need to be submerged or positioned strategically near the water's surface. For the best action shots, place your trail camera on a sturdy tripod or a bridge piling overlooking a shallow, gravelly "redd" (a spawning nest) or at the base of a small waterfall where they are likely to jump. If using an underwater housing, ensure it is weighted properly to withstand the current, and aim for a 45-degree angle relative to the flow to capture the full side profile of the fish as they pass through the frame.

Lighting is your biggest challenge under the surface. If your camera is mounted above the water, consider using a polarized filter to cut through surface glare and reflections. For underwater setups, clear water is essential; wait for a few days after a heavy rain for sediment to settle and visibility to return. Mid-morning light usually provides the best natural illumination through the water column without the harsh, direct shadows of high noon. While you shouldn't use bait—as adult salmon rarely eat during their upstream journey—focusing on natural "choke points" in the stream or narrow channels is the most effective way to ensure a sighting.

Setting your camera to high-speed video mode or a "burst" photo mode is critical for capturing salmon. Their movements, especially when leaping or darting through rapids, are incredibly fast. A trigger speed of 0.2 seconds or faster is ideal. In autumn, look for the darker, more colorful "kelt" or spawning males, which make for much more dramatic photos than the silver ocean-phase fish. Always check your local environmental regulations before placing any equipment in a waterway to ensure you aren't disturbing protected spawning grounds or violating fishing laws.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Atlantic Salmon.

Brown Trout

Brown trout have a thicker tail base (caudal peduncle) and more numerous spots that often have pale halos and extend below the lateral line.

Steelhead (Rainbow Trout)

Steelhead have a more heavily spotted tail fin and a distinct pinkish-red stripe along their sides which salmon lack.

Coho Salmon

While primarily a Pacific species, Coho have white gums compared to the dark gums of Atlantic salmon and have spots on the upper lobe of the tail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Atlantic salmon are primarily diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. However, their peak movement periods occur during the 'crepuscular' hours of dawn and dusk, especially when they are migrating upstream or moving between river pools.

You cannot attract Atlantic salmon with food like you would a bird or a mammal, as adults do not feed during their spawning run. Instead, you can help by maintaining 'riparian buffers' (planting native trees and shrubs) along riverbanks to keep the water cool and clean, which encourages salmon to use those stretches of water.

As juveniles in rivers, they eat aquatic insects and small larvae. Once they reach the ocean, they become predators, feeding on a diet of shrimp, squid, and smaller fish like herring and sand eels.

Atlantic salmon are generally rare in suburban areas unless a clean, significant river system runs through the town. They require very specific, high-quality water conditions and are mostly found in rural or protected coastal river systems in the North Atlantic region.

Atlantic salmon have a more slender body and a slightly forked tail, whereas brown trout have a thicker tail base and a square-cut tail. Additionally, salmon usually have fewer spots, which are mostly located above the lateral line, while brown trout spots often extend well below it and may have light halos around them.

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