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Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye Salmon in New Mexico are actually landlocked kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), which are the non-anadromous form of sockeye that live their entire lives in freshwater. These fish were introduced and now maintain self-sustaining populations.

Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus nerka

Also known as kokanee salmon

Physical Characteristics:
  • Kokanee are typically much smaller than their ocean-going relatives, averaging 23-30 cm (9-12 inches) with weights around 1 pound, though some waters can produce fish up to 20 inches and 3-5 pounds.
  • They display the characteristic blue-tinged silver coloration while feeding, but develop bright red bodies and green heads during spawning season.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Found in several New Mexico waters where they were introduced and now maintain self-sustaining populations.
  • The species thrives in New Mexico's deeper, colder lakes that can maintain suitable plankton populations to support their specialized feeding habits.

Key Locations

  • Navajo Lake, Heron Lake, El Vado Lake, and Eagle Nest Lake.
  • Navajo Lake is one of the premier kokanee destinations.

Specific Spots

  • At deeper waters like those at Heron Lake where kokanee and large lake trout coexist, fish hold at 65-70 feet, sometimes as deep as 120 feet in late season.

Sockeye Salmon FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Sockeye Salmon in New Mexico?

Dodgers like Max Double D's or triple dot patterns paired with small lures. Bare red hooks, small hoochies in pink and red/white combinations, minimalist spinner rigs with smiley blades or small Colorado/Indiana blades. Spin-n-glow rigs work well when shrimp is oversized. Silver scale dodger setups.

When is the best time to fish for Sockeye Salmon in New Mexico?

Spring through early fall before spawning season begins. Cooler water periods from late spring through summer are most productive. Special kokanee snagging season runs October 1-December 31.

How do you catch Sockeye Salmon in New Mexico?

Best targeted through trolling techniques, particularly effective from spring through early fall before spawning season begins. Most productive kokanee fishing occurs during cooler water periods from late spring through summer, with fish becoming less active as water temperatures rise.

What do Sockeye Salmon eat?

They feed extensively on zooplankton throughout their lives, unlike other Pacific salmon species, and also consume small aquatic organisms like shrimp, insects, and occasionally snails during juvenile stages.

Where do Sockeye Salmon live in New Mexico?

Found in several New Mexico waters where they were introduced and now maintain self-sustaining populations. The species thrives in New Mexico's deeper, colder lakes that can maintain suitable plankton populations to support their specialized feeding habits.

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