It's been hard to keep up with my "Fun Fact Friday's" since we've been busy with guests and traveling. So, I apologize for this being a day late. This particular fishing fact I find quite interesting. I learned this when we went to the Sea Life Center in Seward, but it was interesting to see in person.
Today, we'll learn about the life cycle of a Sockeye Salmon - what many people in Alaska call "Reds."
First, when a salmon is born, he is born in fresh water at a particular place in a river. The amazing thing is, even as a baby, the Sockeye (Let's call him "Sam the Sockeye" for purposes of our educational story today.) remember the EXACT location where they were born and in several years they will return to the same location to spawn. After Sam is born, he swims a short distance and hunkers down in an "estuary" until he is ready to make his way out into the vast darkness of the ocean. An estuary is a location where freshwater rivers connect with ocean water so there is a mix of fresh and salt water. I suppose this is Sam's moment to "sink or swim." He must begin to adapt to the changes of the water and determine if he can make it on his own in the ocean.
After Sam decides to venture out into the deep blue, no one really knows what happens to them. Scientists don't know how far they swim or what types of fish they feed on or even exactly how long they stay out at sea, but there is speculation they have about a 5 year life cycle. Don't quote me on that one, though.....on the several types of salmon, they all have different life cycle terms.
When Sam is ready to have some sex, eh um "spawn," I mean, he swims all the way back home to the EXACT place he was born!
Now, this is where Sam's life gets interesting. When he first leaves the salt water and enters the fresh water river he looks like the first picture below. Sam is silver. But, upon his return to fresh water, Sam goes through a multitude of hormonal changes that tops any menopausal change us women go through! Ladies, be thankful this doesn't happen to us!
Once Sam hits the fresh water, he stops eating. Nothing more from this point onward. As he swims and swims back to his birthplace, his body goes through a series of hormonal changes causing his silver skin to change colors to a deep red set of scales. His nose develops a horn-like hook shape and his head turns a kind-of green grayish color. Sam really does turn quite ugly!
Even though Sam has gone through "the change" he somehow is still attractive to the ladies. I guess this is because the ladies all have gone through their changes as well - they look just like Sam! Sam finds his special gal and has some sex. We actually saw some of these fish spawning in Cooper Landing. It was interesting as Sam swims over the ladies he kindof hammers her down! I guess she then lays her eggs right there. The lady then seems to shake him off and swim a bit more and then Sam comes back for another pounding. I think it's best if I not compare Sam's ways to the human ways of having sex....ha ha!
The worse part.....shortly after their afternoon of pleasure ok, sex, Sam and his lady DIE!!
What's the fun in that?
So, just to clarify for you......
Sam is born.
Sam swims into the deep blue ocean.
Sam swims home to his birthplace....and turns UGLY in the process.
All because Sam wanted to have some SEX....
And then Sam DIES!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a "Red Salmon" also known as "Sockeye Salmon"
OR....aka......SAM!
This first photo is after the salmon reach fresh water. This is the first leg of their journey - the early portion.
Bob caught this fish from the shore here in Kenai.
Today, we'll learn about the life cycle of a Sockeye Salmon - what many people in Alaska call "Reds."
First, when a salmon is born, he is born in fresh water at a particular place in a river. The amazing thing is, even as a baby, the Sockeye (Let's call him "Sam the Sockeye" for purposes of our educational story today.) remember the EXACT location where they were born and in several years they will return to the same location to spawn. After Sam is born, he swims a short distance and hunkers down in an "estuary" until he is ready to make his way out into the vast darkness of the ocean. An estuary is a location where freshwater rivers connect with ocean water so there is a mix of fresh and salt water. I suppose this is Sam's moment to "sink or swim." He must begin to adapt to the changes of the water and determine if he can make it on his own in the ocean.
After Sam decides to venture out into the deep blue, no one really knows what happens to them. Scientists don't know how far they swim or what types of fish they feed on or even exactly how long they stay out at sea, but there is speculation they have about a 5 year life cycle. Don't quote me on that one, though.....on the several types of salmon, they all have different life cycle terms.
When Sam is ready to have some sex, eh um "spawn," I mean, he swims all the way back home to the EXACT place he was born!
Now, this is where Sam's life gets interesting. When he first leaves the salt water and enters the fresh water river he looks like the first picture below. Sam is silver. But, upon his return to fresh water, Sam goes through a multitude of hormonal changes that tops any menopausal change us women go through! Ladies, be thankful this doesn't happen to us!
Once Sam hits the fresh water, he stops eating. Nothing more from this point onward. As he swims and swims back to his birthplace, his body goes through a series of hormonal changes causing his silver skin to change colors to a deep red set of scales. His nose develops a horn-like hook shape and his head turns a kind-of green grayish color. Sam really does turn quite ugly!
Even though Sam has gone through "the change" he somehow is still attractive to the ladies. I guess this is because the ladies all have gone through their changes as well - they look just like Sam! Sam finds his special gal and has some sex. We actually saw some of these fish spawning in Cooper Landing. It was interesting as Sam swims over the ladies he kindof hammers her down! I guess she then lays her eggs right there. The lady then seems to shake him off and swim a bit more and then Sam comes back for another pounding. I think it's best if I not compare Sam's ways to the human ways of having sex....ha ha!
The worse part.....shortly after their afternoon of pleasure ok, sex, Sam and his lady DIE!!
What's the fun in that?
So, just to clarify for you......
Sam is born.
Sam swims into the deep blue ocean.
Sam swims home to his birthplace....and turns UGLY in the process.
All because Sam wanted to have some SEX....
And then Sam DIES!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a "Red Salmon" also known as "Sockeye Salmon"
OR....aka......SAM!
This first photo is after the salmon reach fresh water. This is the first leg of their journey - the early portion.
Bob caught this fish from the shore here in Kenai.
This is after the SAME salmon reach their spawning grounds.
Big difference in appearance, huh?
Sam spawining.
One thing I forgot to mention....
After Sam and all his ladies and friends die, they really stink up the river. No joke! We sometimes drive by this area and there's a ton of dead fish in there and they just rot away and STINK!!!
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