Michigan State Record Chinook Salmon: 47 lb 14 oz
The Michigan state record chinook salmon weighed 47 lb 14 oz and measured 47.5 inches. It was caught in 2021 from Lake Michigan by Luis Martinez, and the Michigan DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 5 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Michigan. 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 Michigan lakes we do grade instead.
Chinook Salmon records by state
Michigan ranks 1 of 7 among the states in our index for record chinook salmon. No state we track has produced a heavier one.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan (this page) | 47 lb 14 oz | 2021 | Lake Michigan |
| 2 | New York | 47 lb 13 oz | 1991 | Salmon River |
| 3 | Indiana | 38 lb | 1980 | Trail Creek |
| 4 | South Dakota | 31 lb 8 oz | 2016 | Lake Oahe |
| 5 | North Dakota | 31 lb 2 oz | 1986 | Missouri River |
| 6 | Ohio | 29 lb 8 oz | 1989 | Lake Erie |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 28 lb 15 oz | 1990 | Lake Erie |
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 Michigan
5 of Michigan's 20 standing records are heavier than the 47 lb 14 oz chinook salmon — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 19 Michigan records have stood longer, the chinook salmon mark dating to 2021.