Pennsylvania State Record Chinook Salmon: 28 lb 15 oz
The Pennsylvania state record chinook salmon weighed 28 lb 15 oz. It was caught in 1990 from Lake Erie in Erie County by Gregory Lasko, and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission still recognizes it as the state mark 36 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Erie in Erie 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 Pennsylvania lakes we do grade instead.
Chinook Salmon records by state
Pennsylvania ranks 7 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 | 29 lb 8 oz | 1989 | Lake Erie |
| 7 | Pennsylvania (this page) | 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 Pennsylvania
6 of Pennsylvania's 18 standing records are heavier than the 28 lb 15 oz chinook salmon — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 6 Pennsylvania records have stood longer, the chinook salmon mark dating to 1990.