New York State Record Chinook Salmon: 47 lb 13 oz
The New York state record chinook salmon weighed 47 lb 13 oz and measured 48 inches. It was caught in 1991 from Salmon River in Oswego County by Kurtis Killian, and the New York DEC still recognizes it as the state mark 35 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Salmon River in Oswego 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 New York lakes we do grade instead.
Chinook Salmon records by state
New York ranks 2 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 (this page) | 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 New York
2 of New York's 20 standing records are heavier than the 47 lb 13 oz chinook salmon — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 4 New York records have stood longer, the chinook salmon mark dating to 1991.
New York lakes that hold chinook salmon
2 New York lakes in our index are documented to hold chinook salmon, ranked here by water-quality grade.