Katmai's Fish Species

Spawning sockeye salmon swarm together at the mouth of Brooks River.

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

Select a Park:

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Select a Species Category (optional):

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Species attribute definitions

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Visit NPSpecies for more comprehensive information and advanced search capability. Have a suggestion or comment on this list? Let us know.

 

From bringing large numbers of brown bears to areas for bear viewing, and creating great recreational fishing opportunities, the different species of fish are a crucial part of Katmai’s ecosystem. They have great local economic significance, and provide exceptional visitor experiences.

No matter when or where you visit, fishing in Katmai requires extra care and responsibility to protect the wildlife and experience.

 

Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
A predictable eruption occurs at Katmai National Park and Preserve annually as salmon burst from the northern Pacific Ocean and into park waters. Sockeye (also known as red) salmon return from the ocean, where they have spent two or three years. Navigating first across the open ocean, and then up rivers, lakes, and streams, they return to the headwater gravel beds of their birth to deposit their own young before dying. Their size, averaging 5 to 7 pounds, varies proportionally to how long they spend feeding at sea.

The salmon run begins here in late June. By the end of July, a million fish may have moved from Bristol Bay into the Naknek system of lakes and rivers. Salmon stop feeding upon entering freshwater, and physiological changes lead to the distinctive red color, humped back, and elongated jaw they develop during spawning. The salmon spawn during August, September, and October. Stream bottoms must have the correct texture of loose gravel for the eggs to develop. The stream must flow freely through winter to aerate the eggs. By spring the young fish that have just hatched, called "fry" or "juveniles," emerge from the gravels and migrate into the larger lakes, living there two years. The salmon then migrate to sea, returning in two or three years to spawn and begin the cycle once again. Salmon provide food for the bears, bald eagles, rainbow trout, and directly or indirectly for the other creatures that forage along these streams. Find out more about sockeye salmon in Katmai.

 

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Cousin to the salmon, rainbow trout are found throughout Katmai’s rivers and are native to the Pacific Coast of North America from Alaska to Mexico. The diet of rainbow trout varies from insect larvae and pupae to algae. They typically spawn in streams and rivers with steady water flow and gravel bottoms. Rainbow trout can live up to 11 years and can grow to 6-16 inches (15-40 cm) long.

 

Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
Lake trout are native to Canada, Alaska, the Great Lakes, New England, and parts of Montana. They are a predatory fish and are at the top of the aquatic food chain, eating other fish. Lake Trout prefer cooler water between 40-55 degrees Fahrenheit (4-13 degrees Celsius). The average adult weighs 9-10 pounds (4-4.5 kg) and can live up to 25 years of age.

 

Southwest Alaska Network (SWAN)
SWAN is analyzing lake trout to monitor mercury concentrations in lakes throughout Katmai. This long-term monitoring project is working to find the source, natural or not, of mercury in Katmai’s pristine aquatic ecosystems.

Learn more about the Southwest Alaska Network.