Coho Salmon Life Cycle

Coho Salmon Life Cycle. . 1 to 4 years in fresh water, Most coho migrate to sea after one or two years in fresh water., Sept 1-Nov 15 The adult cohos are the last of the Pacific salmon to arrive in the river to spawn., Nov 15-April 1 The eggs incubate over the winter., April 1-May 1 In the spring, the alevins emerge from their eggs, using the remnants of the yolk as a portable food source., May 1-June 1 Even though 90% of the eggs are fertilized, only 20% of the fry survive., June 1-July 1When the smolt go the ocean they are well developed and better equipped to survive than other salmon smolts., July 1-July 15 After feeding and growing in the ocean for up to 2 years, the adults return to spawn and complete the cycle., July 15-August 31 Adults gather near their natal stream in preparation for spawning., Growth Stages of Coho Salmon-Each female lays approximately 3800 eggs , –Note the orange egg sac that the alevin uses for food , , Twenty percent of the fertilized eggs develop into the fry stage, , After spending up to four years in fresh water, fry develop into smolts that are adapted for salt water. , , Coho are excellent jumpers. They have been known to clear waterfalls over two meters (over six feet) tall. Spawning adults turn bright red and are often confused with spawning sockeye salmon. To tell the difference, look for the hump on male sockeyes and the greenish backs on the adult cohos. Some people call coho “silver salmon.”