In late spring, the salmon smolts shoal together. Then, when the river is high after rain, they travel down to the estuary. After taking a few days to get used to the salty water, the smolts head off out to sea. Adult salmon in the sea Even in the high seas, the salmon is not safe. Fishing boats take many salmon in the high seas, although internationally agreed quotas now limit the catch from most fisheries.
Bigger problems await the salmon on their return journey to the rivers of their birth.
Once inside the estuary of the river in which they were born, the salmon have to escape the seals, cormorants and seine nets in the estuary and maybe coracles in the tidal reaches of the river. The king of the river, the Atlantic salmon is greatly prized as a sport fish. The autumn migration into Welsh rivers remains substantial, and the sight of these majestic fish leaping the falls is a source of fascination and pleasure to visitors and local people alike. Usually in November, December and January, the salmon pair up and redd cutting begins. A hen salmon may take several days to lay all her eggs and cover them over with gravel.