Salmon, Atlantic (Salmo salar)
Current record: 64lb
Water: River Tay, Glendelvine
The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is one of the most storied fish in UK rivers, and one of the largest, growing up to a metre in length, behind only the Siberian taimen and Pacific Chinook among the salmon family worldwide. Most UK populations are anadromous: hatched in freshwater, they migrate to the ocean to grow, then return to the exact river they were born in to spawn, overcoming waterfalls, rapids, and predators along the way. A handful of landlocked populations skip the ocean entirely and live their whole lives in large lakes instead.
That return journey triggers real physical change: colouring darkens, body shape shifts, and the whole process leaves the fish in poor condition by the time spawning's done, most die shortly after, their bodies breaking down to feed the river system they just fought so hard to reach.
Diet shifts sharply with age. Newly hatched fry start on microscopic invertebrates before moving on to insects, salmon eggs, and eventually small fish as they grow. Pre-grilse (young salmon not yet returned from the sea) take a broader mix again, amphipods, small crustaceans, and plankton, while river-dwelling juveniles rely heavily on caddisflies, mayflies, stoneflies, and midges.
UK salmon populations face real pressure: habitat loss, river barriers blocking migration, pollution, and changing ocean conditions have all driven declines, and many rivers now operate strict catch-and-release policies or closed seasons specifically to protect breeding stock. Worth checking the rules on any water before targeting salmon specifically.