Salmon State Records
The record salmon on 28 state lists, heaviest first. States list these under their own names (Chinook Salmon, Chinook Salmon (river), Chinook Salmon (ocean), Coho Salmon, Atlantic Salmon, Chum Salmon and others); each is shown as its state names it. Salmon fishing tournaments
World records (IGFA all-tackle ↗):
- Coho Salmon: 33 lb 4 oz, Salmon River, Pulaski, New York, USA, 1989
- Atlantic Salmon: 79 lb 2 oz, Tana River, Norway, 1928
- Chum Salmon: 35 lb 0 oz, Edye Pass, British Columbia, Canada, 1995
| State | Species | Record | Year | Water | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Chinook Salmon | 97 lb 4 oz | 1985 | Kenai River | adfg.alaska.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| California | Chinook Salmon (river) | 88 lbs | 1979 | Sacramento River | wildlife.ca.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Oregon | Chinook Salmon | 83 lbs 0 oz | 1910 | Umpqua River | myodfw.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| California | Chinook Salmon (ocean) | 65 lb 4 oz | 2002 | Crescent City | wildlife.ca.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Michigan | Chinook Salmon | 47.86 lb | 2021 | Lake Michigan | michigan.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| New York | Chinook Salmon | 47 lb. 13 oz. | 1991 | Salmon River | dec.ny.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Chinook Salmon | 44 lbs. 15 oz. | 1994 | Lake Michigan | dnr.wisconsin.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Indiana | Chinook Salmon | 38 lb. | 1980 | Trail Creek | in.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Illinois | Chinook Salmon | 37 lb 0 oz | 1976 | Lake Michigan | ifishillinois.org ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| New York | Coho Salmon | 33 lb. 7 oz. | 1998 | Lake Ontario | dec.ny.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Chinook Salmon | 33 lbs 4 oz | 1989 | Lake Superior | dnr.state.mn.us ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Montana | Chinook Salmon | 32.65 lbs. | — | Fort Peck Reservoir | fwp.mt.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Michigan | Atlantic Salmon | 32.62 lb | 1981 | Lake Michigan | michigan.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Alaska | Chum Salmon | 32 lb | 1985 | Caamano Point | adfg.alaska.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| North Dakota | Chinook Salmon | 31 lbs 2 oz. | 1986 | Missouri River | gfappspublic.nd.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Michigan | Coho Salmon | 30.56 lb | 1976 | Platte River | michigan.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Ohio | Chinook Salmon | 29.5 pounds | 1989 | Lake Erie | outdoorwritersofohio.org ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | Chinook Salmon | 28 lb. 15 oz. | 1990 | Lake Erie | pa.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Coho Salmon | 26 lbs. 1.9 oz. | 1999 | Lake Michigan | dnr.wisconsin.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Alaska | Coho Salmon | 26 lb | 1976 | Icy Strait | adfg.alaska.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Oregon | Coho Salmon | 25 lbs 5.25 oz | 1966 | Siltcoos Lake | myodfw.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| New York | Atlantic Salmon | 24 lb. 15 oz. | 1997 | Lake Ontario | dec.ny.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Atlantic Salmon | 23 lbs. 15 oz. | 1980 | Lake Michigan | dnr.wisconsin.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Oregon | Chum Salmon | 23 lbs 0 oz | 1990 | Kilchis River | myodfw.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Atlantic Salmon | 22 lb 15 oz | 1997 | Mattawa Lake | mass.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Maine | Atlantic Salmon | 22 lb 8 oz | 1907 | Sebago Lake | maine.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| California | Coho Salmon | 22 lbs | 1959 | Paper Mill Creek | wildlife.ca.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Rhode Island | Atlantic Salmon | 21 lb 9 oz | 2004 | Barber Pond | dem.ri.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| California | Chinook Salmon (inland) | 20 lb 15 oz | 2013 | Trinity Lake | wildlife.ca.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Indiana | Coho Salmon | 20 lb. 12 oz. | 1972 | Lake Michigan | in.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Illinois | Coho Salmon | 20 lb 9 oz | 1972 | Lake Michigan | ifishillinois.org ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | Chinook Salmon | 19 lb 4 oz | 1985 | Exeter River | wildlife.nh.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Illinois | Atlantic Salmon | 18 lb 11.25 oz | 1979 | Lake Michigan | ifishillinois.org ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | Atlantic Salmon | 18 lb 8 oz | 1942 | Pleasant Lake | wildlife.nh.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Coho Salmon | 18 lb 8 oz | 1986 | North River | mass.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | Atlantic Salmon | 17 lb. 2 oz. | 2001 | Raystown Lake | pa.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | Coho Salmon | 16 lb 3 oz | 1984 | Piscataqua River | wildlife.nh.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Alaska | Sockeye Salmon | 16 lb | 1974 | Kenai River | adfg.alaska.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | Coho Salmon | 15 lb. 5 oz. | 1985 | Lake Erie | pa.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Vermont | Atlantic Salmon | 14 Pounds, 6.5 Ounces | — | Not listed | anrweb.vt.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Indiana | Atlantic Salmon | 14 lb. 4 oz. | 1979 | Lake Michigan | in.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Ohio | Coho Salmon | 13.63 pounds | 1982 | Huron River | outdoorwritersofohio.org ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Alaska | Pink Salmon | 13 lb 7 oz | 2016 | Kenai River | adfg.alaska.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Atlantic Salmon | 12 lbs 13 oz | 1991 | Baptism River | dnr.state.mn.us ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Pinook (chinook x pink) Salmon | 12 lbs.7.4 oz. | 2022 | Lake Michigan | dnr.wisconsin.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Coho Salmon | 12 lbs 5 oz | 2024 | Lake Superior | dnr.state.mn.us ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Colorado | Chinook Salmon | 11 lb | 1989 | Williams Fork Reservoir | cpw.state.co.us ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Oregon | Kokanee Salmon | 9 lbs 10.72 oz | 2010 | Wallowa Lake | myodfw.com ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| California | Coho Salmon (inland) | 8 lb 15 oz | 2015 | Oroville Diversion Pool | wildlife.ca.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Virginia | Coho Salmon | 8 lbs. 12 oz. | 1971 | Philpott Reservoir | dwr.virginia.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| California | Pink Salmon | 8 lb 11 oz | 2001 | Sacramento River | wildlife.ca.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| New Jersey | Atlantic Salmon | 8 lb 10 oz | 2021 | Merrill Creek Reservoir | dep.nj.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Michigan | Pink Salmon | 8.56 lb | 1987 | Carp River | michigan.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Montana | Kokanee Salmon | 7.85 lbs. | — | Hauser Lake | fwp.mt.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Nebraska | Chinook Salmon | 7 lb 5 oz | 2011 | Lewis & Clark Lake | outdoornebraska.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Colorado | Kokanee Salmon | 7 lb 5 oz | 2002 | Blue Mesa Reservoir | cpw.state.co.us ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Wyoming | Kokanee Salmon | 6.31 lbs. | 2015 | Flaming Gorge Reservoir | wgfd.wyo.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Utah | Kokanee Salmon | 6 lb 5 oz | 2015 | Flaming Gorge Reservoir | wildlife.utah.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Pink Salmon | 6 lbs. 1.9 oz. | 1999 | Lake Michigan | dnr.wisconsin.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Nebraska | Coho Salmon | 5 lb 12 oz | 1971 | Lake McConaughy | outdoornebraska.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| California | Kokanee Salmon | 5 lb 2 oz | 2013 | Lake Tahoe | wildlife.ca.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| New Mexico | Kokanee Salmon | 5lb. 0oz. | 2021 | Eagle Nest Lake | wildlife.dgf.nm.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Montana | Coho Salmon | 4.88 lbs. | — | Fort Peck Reservoir Face of Dam | fwp.mt.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Pink Salmon | 4 lbs 8 oz | 1989 | Cascade River | dnr.state.mn.us ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | Pink Salmon | 4 lb. 8 oz. | 1995 | Elk Creek | pa.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Ohio | Pink Salmon | 4.3 pounds | 2021 | Lake Erie | outdoorwritersofohio.org ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Nebraska | Kokanee Salmon | 4 lb 2 oz | 1971 | Lake McConaughy | outdoornebraska.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| North Carolina | Kokanee Salmon | 4 lbs, 1 ounce | 2014 | Nantahala Lake | ncwildlife.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Connecticut | Kokanee Salmon | 2 pounds 14 ounces | 2011 | East Twin Lake, Salisbury | portal.ct.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Indiana | Pink Salmon | 2 lb. 12.5 oz. | 1985 | Lake Michigan | in.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Kokanee Salmon | 2 lbs. 8.2 oz. | 2007 | Upper Bass Lake | dnr.wisconsin.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Michigan | Kokanee Salmon | 1.94 lb | 1978 | Clinton River | michigan.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
Records Kept by Length
These lists record the fish by length (some as catch and release), so they are not ranked with the weights above.
| State | Species | Record | Year | Water | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | Chinook Salmon | 41.5 in (catch and release) | 2016 | Salmon River | idfg.idaho.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Idaho | Coho Salmon | 31 in (catch and release) | 2023 | Clearwater River | idfg.idaho.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Idaho | Kokanee Salmon | 22.8 in (catch and release) | 2020 | Big Elk Creek | idfg.idaho.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
Weights are shown as each list gives them, with units spelled out. A state can hold several records here (different species, strains or fresh and salt water lists); each is listed. Record holders' names are on the linked lists.