Ohio State Record Chinook Salmon: 29 lb 8 oz
The Ohio state record chinook salmon weighed 29 lb 8 oz and measured 42.875 inches. It was caught in 1989 from Lake Erie by Walter Shumaker, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife still recognizes it as the state mark 37 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Erie. 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 Ohio lakes we do grade instead.
Chinook Salmon records by state
Ohio ranks 6 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 | 31 lb 2 oz | 1986 | Missouri River |
| 6 | Ohio (this page) | 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 Ohio
4 of Ohio's 21 standing records are heavier than the 29 lb 8 oz chinook salmon — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 7 Ohio records have stood longer, the chinook salmon mark dating to 1989.