Sea Trout Recognition
Sea Trout Recognition
Sea Trout Recognition
KELT
Encountered in Springtime, well-mended kelts are silvery and can
be mistaken for fresh run sea trout. They are normally slimmer in
shape and can often be distinguished by whitish-silver flanks which
lack the iridescent colours of fresh-run fish.
BREEDING COCK
Coloured male sea trout can be indistinguishable from male brown
trout which also spawn with sea trout hens. Males develop enlarged
snouts and an obvious kype on the lower jaw – females retain
normal head proportions at all life stages.
BREEDING HEN
Sea trout/brown trout breed in autumn when river temperatures
reach about 6 degrees, usually in October/November.
Most are coloured (illustrated) but late-running fish may still be
silver-sided.
The Eurasian Trout Salmo Trutta.L. comprises a great number of local races which over time have adapted
to particular habitats. Even small tributary streams can produce a variety of life options, some trout
remaining as freshwater residents, especially males, while others migrate to richer feeding grounds
downstream in rivers, lakes, estuaries - or to the open sea where they become silver sea trout.
Sea trout are sea-going brown trout – their young (below) are indistinguishable
The migratory tendency varies widely. Trout above impassable falls lose it almost completely while rivers
until those about to migrate to sea become silvery smolts (above). with good breeding habitat but limited feeding have a strong tendancy to produce sea trout.
Most British sea trout are females, their male partners often remaining behind in
the rivers as resident brown trout. Enhancement and conservation of sea trout is usually concentrated on three fronts –
Monitoring of trout at different life stages to determine their success and to educate the public and those
responsible for river management on enhancement.
Improving the freshwater habitat to increase the numbers of trout going to sea.
Using local trout for any stocking as these are most likely to be best adapted to local river and sea
conditions.
It is useful for fishermen to recognise that on sea trout rivers the resident brown trout, both large and
small, are likely to have genetic tendancies to migrate and become sea trout - and should be conserved
accordingly.