Sea Trout (salmo Trutta)
The sea trout is one of the large members of the salmon family, which like the salmon migrates upriver to spawn. Its body has a greyish (female) or brownish (male) shade with black or red spots, which often extend along the sides beneath the lateral line. The fish can grow to a length of one metre. Experiments have shown that if sea trout cannot get away from freshwater, they change into brown trout and vice versa, for young brown trout, if put in the sea, will grow into large sea trout, which will then migrate upriver in the spawning period. Because of this the trout is today recognized as a variable species existing in two forms, migratory (the sea trout) and non-migratory (the brown trout), although the distinction is not absolute. The sea trout lives in the same type of waters as the salmon and has a similar economic value, which is realized when they are caught during the migrations upriver.
The sea trout has a bigger head than the salmon, the caudal peduncle is shorter and it is generally high-backed and more robust. Its caudal fin is not curved as in the case of the salmon, but is almost straight. The adult males develop a hook on the lower jaw, just like the salmon.
Maximum size and weight:
130 cm, 4.0 kg.
Identifying characteristics: Black and red spots on the sides; upper jaw bone extends beyond the level of the rear of the eye.
