Indiana State Record Coho Salmon: 20 lb 12 oz
The Indiana state record coho salmon weighed 20 lb 12 oz. It was caught in 1972 from Lake Michigan in LaPorte County by John Beutner, and the Indiana DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 54 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Michigan in LaPorte County. We don't carry a water-quality grade for it: our index covers standing lakes with enough EPA Water Quality Portal samples to score, which leaves out rivers and tributaries, Great Lakes water, and smaller ponds that are rarely sampled. Browse the Indiana lakes we do grade instead.
Coho Salmon records by state
Indiana ranks 3 of 6 among the states in our index for record coho salmon. New York holds the heaviest at 33 lb 7 oz, set in 1998.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 33 lb 7 oz | 1998 | Lake Ontario |
| 2 | Michigan | 30 lb 9 oz | 1976 | Platte River |
| 3 | Indiana (this page) | 20 lb 12 oz | 1972 | Lake Michigan |
| 4 | Illinois | 20 lb 9 oz | 1972 | Lake Michigan |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 15 lb 5 oz | 1985 | Lake Erie |
| 6 | Ohio | 13 lb 10 oz | 1982 | Huron River |
Each figure comes from that state's own fisheries agency. Agencies differ on what they certify — some recognize catch-and-release length records alongside weight — so treat this as a comparison of standing certified weights, not a single national list.
How it ranks inside Indiana
11 of Indiana's 21 standing records are heavier than the 20 lb 12 oz coho salmon — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 1 Indiana records have stood longer, the coho salmon mark dating to 1972.