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Important Game Fish Species in Ireland
Salmon (Salmon salar)
Features:
Mature Salmon are recognised by their silver body and the small
adipose fin characteristic of the salmon family. Male salmon at
spawning time can be distinguished from females by their
distinctive hook shaped lower jaw. The maxillary bone in salmon
does not extend beyond the eye. Spawning:
Spawning takes place in freshwater in gravely areas of rivers and
streams from November to January. Fecundity: The
average adult salmon lays between 3,000 - 12,000 eggs. Longevity:
Salmon spend between one and four years in freshwater before
migrating to sea, for one or two years. Irish Salmon are known to
travel to the coast of Greenland and to the Faroe Islands to
feed. Diet: Juvenile salmon feed on insects,
crustaceans and benthic invertebrates, while adult salmon feed
only at sea on a diet of small fish, sandeels, sprat, krill and
other pelagic organisms. Specimen Weight: 9 kgs
(20lbs)
Brown Trout
(Salmo trutta)
Features: The
adipose fin in brown trout is normally red and they have many
definite black spots on the dorsal fin which distinguishes from
the Salmon. Spawning: Brown trout spawn in rivers and streams in
shallow gravely areas in November/December. Fecundity:
Small brown trout in streams and mountain lakes can produce as
few as 100 eggs, whereas large trout in limestone lakes can
produce up to 10,000 eggs. Longevity: Brown
trout usually live for four to seven years but can live for up to
10 years. Diet: Brown trout feed on plankton,
benthic invertebrates, insects, crustaceans and fish fry. Specimen
Weight: - River 2.26 kg (5lbs); Lake 4.53 kg (10lbs)
Sea Trout (Salmo trutta)
Features: Sea
trout can be distinguished from salmon by more dark spots above
and below the lateral line, a larger head and a less streamlined
appearance. The tail is straight, unlike the v-shaped salmon tail
and the maxillary bone of the sea trout extends beyond the eye. Spawning:
Unlike salmon, sea trout may spawn many times. They spawn in
similar areas to salmon, usually 3 or 4 weeks earlier. Fecundity:
Adult sea trout can lay between 1,000 and 5,000 eggs. A large
proportion of sea trout that return to fresh water after their
first summer at sea are 'non-spawners'. Longevity:
Sea trout usually spend two or three years in fresh water and can
spend up to six years feeding at sea returning each year to
spawn. Diet: Juveniles feed on a similar diet to
juvenile salmon; seatrout at sea feed on a wide range of marine
organisms including sandeels and sprat. Specimen Weight;
2.72 kg (6lbs)
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What's Covered in this
section
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Salmon
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Sea Trout
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Brown Trout
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