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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)

 

  What's Covered in this section

  • Salmon

  • Sea Trout

  • Brown Trout


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