North Dakota State Record Chinook Salmon: 31 lb 2 oz
The North Dakota state record chinook salmon weighed 31 lb 2 oz and measured 41 inches. It was caught in 1986 from Missouri River by Thomas Schwartz, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department still recognizes it as the state mark 40 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Missouri River. 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 North Dakota lakes we do grade instead.
Chinook Salmon records by state
North Dakota ranks 5 of 7 among the states in our index for record chinook salmon. Michigan holds the heaviest at 47 lb 14 oz, set in 2021.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 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 (this page) | 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 North Dakota
5 of North Dakota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 31 lb 2 oz chinook salmon — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 4 North Dakota records have stood longer, the chinook salmon mark dating to 1986.