Skip to main content

Pink Salmon

Pink Salmon

Pink salmon are a Pacific species — not native to the UK — that began appearing in Scottish and English rivers in meaningful numbers from 2017 onward. They arrive on odd-numbered years due to their fixed two-year life cycle.

Officially classified as an invasive non-native species, any catch should be reported to the Environment Agency or Fisheries Scotland rather than released.

Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

Also known as Humpback salmon, humpy, pink

Physical Characteristics:
  • Steel-blue to silver in the sea; males develop a pronounced dorsal hump and dark, blotchy flanks on entering freshwater — the hump is the clearest field ID.
  • Large, oval black spots cover the back and the entire tail fin; white mouth with distinctly black gums and tongue — key differences from Atlantic salmon.
  • Scales noticeably smaller and more numerous than Atlantic salmon; body feels finer-textured in hand.
  • Smallest Pacific salmon: most UK fish run 2–4 lb, though the species can reach 15 lb in its native range.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Non-native and invasive in the UK; originally from the North Pacific, introduced to Russian rivers in the 1960s and spreading westward through Norway into British waters.
  • Recorded in Scottish rivers north of Inverness, North East England (Wear, Tyne, Coquet), and as far south and west as the Hampshire Avon and River Tamar — distribution widens on peak odd-year runs.
  • Anadromous: fish enter freshwater rivers and streams to spawn, spending very little time in fresh water compared to Atlantic salmon.
  • Juveniles (fry) move quickly to estuarine and coastal waters after hatching; adults return to rivers after roughly 18 months at sea.

Key Locations

  • Rivers north of Inverness, Scotland — the highest concentration of confirmed spawning and juvenile records in 2021.
  • River Tyne, Northumberland — one of the more regularly reported North East England rivers on peak years.
  • River Wear and River Coquet, North East England — both recorded catches in 2017 and subsequent odd years.
  • River Tamar, Devon/Cornwall — a single confirmed fish at Gunnislake trap in 2021, showing how far south fish can reach.
  • Northumbrian inshore coast — fish intercepted in sea-trout T-nets, useful for gauging run timing before fish enter rivers.

Specific Spots

  • Lower river pools and tidal reaches are where most UK fish are first encountered, as pinks push upriver quickly and don't linger long in fresh water.
  • Gravel runs and shallow riffles attract spawning fish — males compete actively at these sites, making them visible and catchable.
  • Estuary mouths and inshore coastal water are worth watching on peak years; several UK fish have been taken in T-nets set for sea trout off the Northumbrian coast.

Pink Salmon FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Pink Salmon?

Small silver or pink spinners (Mepps, Toby-style spoons) in sizes 2–4 are the most reliable conventional choice for fresh-run fish in lower pools and tidal reaches. Shrimp and prawn baits work on rivers where bait fishing is permitted; check local rules before using them on salmon rivers.

What flies work for Pink Salmon?

Small, bright tube flies and Waddingtons in pink, orange, or chartreuse, similar to the patterns used for summer Atlantic salmon grilse, are the standard approach; size 10–14 doubles also work in low, clear water.

When is the best time to fish for Pink Salmon?

Odd-numbered years only (2025, 2027, etc.), no meaningful run occurs in even years due to the fixed two-year life cycle. Summer months are the primary window, with fish appearing in inshore coastal waters and lower rivers first before pushing upstream to spawn.

How do you catch Pink Salmon?

Most UK anglers encounter pink salmon incidentally while fishing for sea trout or Atlantic salmon on northern rivers during summer.

What do Pink Salmon eat?

In the sea, pink salmon feed on small fish, squid, and crustaceans; small bright spinners, spoons, and shrimp-pattern flies can draw strikes from fish fresh in from salt water.

See it in the app

Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Pink Salmon.

  1. 01 · Species map filter

    Map every Pink Salmon water

    Pick Pink Salmon and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.

  2. 02 · Waterbody species

    Tap any water. See what lives there.

    Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.

  3. 03 · Angler Intelligence

    Ask how to catch Pink Salmon

    Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.

Stop guessing where Pink Salmon are.

Open the map, filter by Pink Salmon, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.

  • Species map filter
  • Angler Intelligence
  • Fishing journal
Try onWater+ for free

Explore other species

Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.

No species information available.

Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.

onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.