The 10 differences between salmon and trout
Although both salmon and trout are delicious fish, with many similarities, there are some key differences between salmon and trout that you should consider before you place your order at the restaurant or grocery store. Here are 10 major differences between salmon and trout, to help you decide which one is right for you!
1. Size
The common Atlantic Salmon can weigh up to 25 pounds, while some Pacific Salmon can weigh over 100 pounds. However, most of these fish are much smaller than that, usually around 6-12 pounds in weight. Trout tend to be larger in size than Salmon, but not always. In fact, there is a strain of rainbow trout known as Steelhead Trout that is believed to be one of the largest freshwater fish found worldwide.
2. Color
One of the most obvious differences is that while both are fish, they come in different colors: Salmon tend to be reddish-pink with white or cream underbellies. Trout can be a variety of hues, from black and red spots to green, brown or even pink. Both taste great when prepared correctly; however, if you find one type over another, there’s no need to feel guilty about it!
3. Behavior
One of the main differences between salmon and trout is behavior. Trout swim in schools, whereas salmon usually swim alone.
Trout are more nervous than salmon, making them harder to catch; that’s why they are often found in smaller rivers with few predators. Trout like cooler water, while salmon prefer warmer waters. They also like different habitats: Salmon prefer to stay in freshwater while trout seek out saltwater where they spawn (then die).
4. Habitat
Trout are cold-water fish, which means they live in lakes, rivers, streams, or other bodies of water with low temperatures. Salmon on the other hand have slightly different habitat needs: they generally prefer salt water, but aren’t necessarily exclusive to it. They do like bodies of water that are moving (i.e., not stagnant) and contain rocky bottoms for spawning.
5. Lifespan
Lifespan is one of the major differences between salmon and trout. because Salmon can live for a relatively long time.
but trout have a shorter lifespan. It depends on many factors; for example, larger fish tend to live longer than smaller fish. The Atlantic Salmon live an average of 7 years while Largemouth Bass live up to 17 years.
If you’re raising fish in captivity they may also outlive their wild counterparts as they won’t have as much competition or predators.
6. How to fish them?
The great thing about fishing for either of these species is that there are many different techniques you can use to catch them. For instance, if you’re fishing for steelhead, throwing out lures can be an effective technique, but using bait tends to work well when trying to catch lake or stream-bred cutthroat. The one thing all fishermen can agree on is that both fish are great to eat!
7. Easy to cook salmon or trout
Salmon is easy to cook, but cooking trout can be a bit more difficult. Trout are naturally leaner than salmon, so if you’re preparing your own fish, it’s important to take care not to overcook it. Also, since many restaurants will serve you trout that isn’t actually wild rainbow trout (called steelhead), it may be a good idea to educate yourself on identifying wild fish versus farmed fish.
8. Taste
The taste of both species of fish is quite similar. Some people would go so far as to say that there are no differences in taste at all, but others will tell you that there are some very subtle differences to be found. The truth probably lies somewhere in between: although they’re not easily distinguishable, differences do exist. Some people will notice these differences immediately while others may not even be able to pinpoint a distinct flavor difference between trout and salmon.
9. They are both endangered species
The most famous difference is that they are both endangered species: Atlantic Salmon is on Canada’s species at risk list, while Rainbow Trout is on Canada’s special concern list
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10. Nutrition differences
Before we get into what makes a salmon different from a trout, let’s look at how they are alike. Both are cold-water fish that contain fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, and selenium. Both have omega-3 fatty acids that help lower triglycerides in your bloodstream. They also have an excellent omega-6 to the omega-3 ratio for your heart health.
However, there are some differences between salmon and trout when it comes to nutrition. Salmon has more than double the amount of protein as well as twice as much Vitamin B12 as trout does.
Differences between Vitamin D2 and D3.
It also contains more zinc and phosphorous than its cousin does. Trout is higher in Omega-3 fatty acids but lower in overall fat content than salmon. If you’re looking for leaner meat with fewer calories, then you should go with trout over salmon.
This article discussed the 10 major differences between salmon and trout. Salmon is typically larger than trout, and they can be found in both salt and fresh water. Trout, on the other hand, are typically found in fresh water and are more sensitive to environmental changes.