Atlantic salmon are said to be the game fish of kings. If you have ever been lucky enough to catch one, you might agree. The scientific name for them is Salmo salar which means leaping salmon. They are found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and rivers and streams that connect to it. Atlantics are anadromous, which means they can live in both salt and fresh water though some are landlocked in lakes like Lake Champlain located in New York and Vermont.

The fascinating thing about Atlantic salmon is that after spawning in fresh water, they don’t die like the Pacific salmon. They return to the ocean for 1 -2 years and are able to find their way back to the exact location to spawn again. Experts don’t know exactly how they do this but some have the opinion that they use the odor of the rivers water to guide them.

Young fish that are 2 to 6 lbs. are called grilse and have natural enemies like seals and sharks. The Atlantic salmon can grow very large while in the ocean, eating a variety of shrimp, squid, herring and eels to name a few, and have reached weights of 80 -100 lbs. but that is not the norm. Salmon in the 10 - 20 lbs. range are more likely to be caught.

Many people enjoy eating these fish and farm-raised salmon can be found in most supermarkets. Some states like New Hampshire have a salmon broodstock program where they release adult Atlantic salmon from the hatchery into the Merrimack river in the spring and fall. They are stripped of their eggs first so the stock can be replenished. You can then fish for them and keep one for eating if you land one.

There are still places where wild Atlantics are migrating but these are dwindling and need to be managed very carefully to insure that the great Atlantic salmon remains the superior gamefish that it is.