Sockeye Salmon

• Sockeye salmon spawn in freshwater lakes and streams; they hatch between January and March. The newly-hatched salmon ("fry") spend one to two (and up to four) years maturing in freshwater lakes, feeding on insects and small animal life. The fish move from living in the shallow shore area to deeper water. The salmon migrate to the ocean after reaching physical maturity. Once again, they initially stay close to the shore, but eventually move to deep oceanic water. Sockeye salmon spend two to three years living in the ocean before returning to their old freshwater habitat to lay eggs.
  
  

Chum Salmon

• Chum salmon spawn in rivers along the coast. The spawning habitat of the Chum salmon is a shallow, cold and clear river or stream with a gravel bottom. Recently spawned Chum salmon will remain in the gravel for two to three months before migrating via the river to the ocean. The fish live in estuaries before migrating to the ocean during the late autumn and early winter. Once reaching the ocean habitat, the Chum salmon will remain for two to five years. They live far from shore, inhabiting the deep ocean.
  
  

Chinook Salmon

• Chinook salmon spawn between July and September, in clear, shallow, cold streams with strong currents. They spend the first year of their life living in the stream and the associated pools, usually spending most of their time along the shore. Physically mature adult Chinook salmon move to deeper, higher-velocity freshwater. Chinooks slowly move from the freshwater stream to the ocean, where they ultimately inhabit ocean waters far offshore. The fish stay in the oceanic environment for three to five years before returning to their freshwater spawning site.
  
  

Pink Salmon

• Pink salmon spawn between June and September. The first habitat the Pink salmon inhabit is a shallow, cold, freshwater stream. In April or May, the young Pink salmon immediately migrate to the ocean. Once the fish reach the ocean, they will typically inhabit saltwater tide creeks for four to six months before migrating farther into the ocean. Unlike other salmon, Pink salmon--for the duration of their oceanic life--remain near the shoreline. After 18 months in the ocean environment, Pink salmon begin the return journey to lay and fertilize eggs in the same location of their spawning.
  
  

Coho Salmon

• Coho salmon spawn during early spring, almost exclusively in freshwater streams. The streams must be narrow and shallow, and have gravel sediment. Unlike other species of salmon, Coho salmon prefer groundwater water sources. The first year of the Coho's life is spent in the stream. While maturing, the fish will go from calm streams to more aggressive, fast-moving water. Physically mature Coho will migrate to the ocean, where they'll spend two to three years before returning to the place of their spawning. Some Coho move far offshore into very deep oceanic waters, while others remain along the shallow shoreline.