Pink salmon, also known as humpback salmon, are the smallest and most abundant of all Pacific Salmon. These fish are native to cold-water rivers in North America from California to Alaska, Northern Japan, and eastern Russia. Pink salmon are born in rivers and quickly migrate downstream to estuaries. Pink salmon grow and mature during their ocean migration. Adult Pink salmon return to their natal stream as two year old fish during the summer and fall months. Pink salmon develop a pronounced hump on their back during the freshwater migration prior to spawning. Pink salmon have a two-year lifecycle, so odd and even year populations do not interbreed. All Pink salmon die after spawning.
