Different species of salmon are considered to have reached adult status at different sizes and ages. A Pink salmon’s life is over after two years. Coho and Chinook are reaching adult stage around 2 years, but is by no means finished growing. Salmon grow at an incredible rate after they enter the ocean. Both Chinook and Coho can put on up to one pound per month as they grow bigger during the summer months.

Chinook and Coho are the only species that are caught with regularity during the adult phase. Chum, Pinks and Sockeye are usually fished as they are returning to the rivers, but not too much when they are growing as an adult. Not much is known about all the places that Chum migrate to, however, when they return to the river mouths before spawning, they are extremely abundant.

Salmon feed on many different types of bait fish including herring, pilchards, anchovies, squid, needlefish, shrimp and krill. Needle fish and squid are two of their favorite baits. Needlefish are very high in oil content and squid are seen as a delicacy. Even when there are lots of other types of bait around, fisherman can still catch salmon on the imitation squid.

If only Herring are around, usually salmon will feed on larger herring if it is around. While fishing, if you can find the schools of larger Herring, you will most likely find salmon. Even if there are abundant schools of smaller Herring, the larger Herring is preferred as it takes less energy to chase it around.