They grow and mature in the ocean and return to spawn and die in the same stream in which they were born. It is believed that salmon evolved with a group of higher bony fish seventy million years ago. Atlantic salmon spread throughout North America, Europe and Iceland before the land masses separated. Atlantic Salmon Atlantic salmon life history is extremely complex owing to its use of both freshwater and marine habitats and long ocean migrations. Atlantic salmon spawn in fresh water during fall.
Eggs remain in gravel substrates over winter until they hatch and emerge as fry during spring.
The Atlantic salmon is a world traveller. Its is an anadromous fish - one that spawns in fresh water but spends much of its life at sea. It is the largest of all Pacific salmon, with weights of individual fish commonly exceeding 30 pounds. The Chinook Salmon Chinook salmon is the largest of the salmon species. It is noted for the numerous black spots on the back, dorsal fin, and both lobes of the caudal fin.