When hooked sockeye can fight hard like a steelhead and frequently jump. Anglers seek out sockeye when the fish return to their natal streams to spawn. These fish have very large spots on their back with large, oval black blotches on both lobes of tail. At sea their backs are dark green-black with silvery sides. Spawning adults turn a dull gray on the back and upper sides with a creamy white color below.
Males develop a pronounced hump, which is why they are also called humpback or humpy.
Adult pink salmon move into their natal streams from June to late September. Pink salmon are not highly prized sport fish. The quality of their meat drops quickly as they prepare to enter fresh water. The average size ranges from 2 to 6 pounds. Pinks take a variety of lures, spinners and flies.