Pennsylvania State Record Coho Salmon: 15 lb 5 oz
The Pennsylvania state record coho salmon weighed 15 lb 5 oz. It was caught in 1985 from Lake Erie in Erie County by Jack Scheirer, and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission still recognizes it as the state mark 41 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.
Coho Salmon records by state
Pennsylvania ranks 5 of 6 among the states in our index for record coho salmon. New York holds the heaviest at 33 lb 7 oz, set in 1998.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 33 lb 7 oz | 1998 | Lake Ontario |
| 2 | Michigan | 30 lb 9 oz | 1976 | Platte River |
| 3 | Indiana | 20 lb 12 oz | 1972 | Lake Michigan |
| 4 | Illinois | 20 lb 9 oz | 1972 | Lake Michigan |
| 5 | Pennsylvania (this page) | 15 lb 5 oz | 1985 | Lake Erie |
| 6 | Ohio | 13 lb 10 oz | 1982 | Huron River |
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
10 of Pennsylvania's 18 standing records are heavier than the 15 lb 5 oz coho salmon — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 3 Pennsylvania records have stood longer, the coho salmon mark dating to 1985.