The 97-Pound King Salmon World Record: Why The 105-Pound Monster Was Disqualified
The King Salmon world record is one of the most legendary and fiercely protected titles in all of sportfishing, a benchmark that has stood for nearly four decades. As of late 2025, the official all-tackle record for the largest Chinook Salmon (or King Salmon) ever caught remains an astonishing 97 pounds and 4 ounces, a fish pulled from the icy waters of Alaska's Kenai River in 1985. This record has survived decades of dedicated angling attempts, intense competition, and even a few massive, unverified catches that have sparked global controversy.
This article dives deep into the fish that set the standard, the man who caught it, and the recent, colossal catches—including a rumored 105-pound giant—that failed to dethrone the Kenai River legend. The story of the world's biggest King Salmon is not just about a number on a scale; it’s a tale of conservation, controversial releases, and the rapidly changing state of one of the Pacific's most magnificent species, especially considering the poor salmon returns seen across Alaska in 2024 and 2025.
Les Anderson: The Man Behind the 97-Pound Legend
The current and long-standing International Game Fish Association (IGFA) all-tackle world record for the King Salmon is a monumental achievement that has become synonymous with Alaskan fishing lore.
- Angler: Les Anderson
- Weight: 97 pounds, 4 ounces (44.11 kg)
- Location: Kenai River, Soldotna, Alaska, USA
- Date: May 17, 1985
- Gear: Rod and Reel (All-Tackle)
- Angler’s Background: Les Anderson was a local car salesman from Soldotna, Alaska, who was fishing with a friend when he hooked the legendary fish.
Anderson’s catch was a true river monster, measuring an immense length and girth that remains unmatched in the official record books. The Kenai River, known worldwide as a premier destination for trophy Chinook, has produced more 70-pound and 80-pound King Salmon than any other river system, cementing its status as the "home of the giants." Anderson's fish, however, was a true anomaly, a once-in-a-lifetime catch that has since become the ultimate target for anglers globally.
The Unbreakable Record: Why the 105-Pound Monster Doesn't Count
In the world of King Salmon fishing, the biggest controversy surrounding the record involves a fish that was arguably larger than Anderson’s—but was never officially certified. This story is crucial to understanding why the 1985 record still stands today.
The Rivers Inlet Giant
The most famous challenge to the 97-pound record came from the waters of Rivers Inlet, British Columbia (BC), a location historically known for producing incredibly large "Tyee" class King Salmon. In a now-fabled incident, veteran angler Gayle Gordon landed a colossal Chinook that was visually estimated and measured to be well over the current world record.
- Angler: Gayle Gordon
- Estimated Weight: Minimum 105 pounds (by calculation)
- Location: Rivers Inlet, British Columbia, Canada
- Key Detail: The fish was released alive back into the river.
Gordon fought the massive salmon for nearly an hour. Based on length and girth measurements taken before the release, the fish was calculated to weigh a minimum of 105 pounds, which would have easily shattered the all-tackle record.
The Conservation Catch-22
The reason this fish does not hold the official world record is simple: to qualify for an IGFA record, the fish must be weighed on a certified scale and inspected, which requires the fish to be harvested. In a display of profound conservation ethics, Gayle Gordon chose to release the giant female Chinook, allowing it to continue its spawning run and potentially contribute to the future of the struggling salmon population. While a few news outlets ran with the story of a "new world record," the catch remains an unverified, yet widely acknowledged, testament to the potential size of these fish.
This single act of conservation solidified the 1985 record's place in history, proving that sometimes, the biggest fish caught is not the one that ends up on the record board.
The Global Pursuit: Tyee Salmon and Other Record Giants
The pursuit of the King Salmon record extends far beyond Alaska and British Columbia, encompassing various regional records and special designations that highlight the species’ global importance.
The Tyee Designation
In the Pacific Northwest, particularly in coastal British Columbia, a King Salmon is given the revered title of "Tyee" once it reaches a weight of 30 pounds or more. The term "Tyee" originates from the Indigenous language of the region, meaning "Chief." This designation is a badge of honor for anglers, as a 30-pound King is a massive, powerful fish that represents the pinnacle of the species in many fisheries. The Rivers Inlet fish caught by Gordon was a Tyee of truly epic proportions.
The Great Lakes Giants
Chinook Salmon were introduced to the Great Lakes in the 1960s to control invasive alewife populations and establish a sport fishery. This introduction created a massive, landlocked population that also produces trophy-sized fish. The Great Lakes record is a significant benchmark for anglers outside the Pacific region.
The Great Lakes King Salmon record has been broken several times in recent years, demonstrating the health of that particular fishery. For example, a new Michigan state record was broken near Ludington on Lake Michigan, showcasing the massive size these non-native fish can achieve in the nutrient-rich freshwater system. These fish, while not contenders for the all-tackle world record due to their landlocked nature, are giants in their own right and offer a more accessible trophy for anglers across the US and Canada. The New York State record, set on the Salmon River, is another major benchmark within the Great Lakes system.
The King Salmon's Future: Facing 2025 Conservation Challenges
Breaking the 97-pound world record is becoming increasingly difficult, not just due to the fish's size, but because of severe conservation challenges facing wild King Salmon populations. The health of the Chinook fishery is a major concern, particularly in Alaska's most famous rivers.
Recent reports from 2024 and 2025 show alarmingly poor King Salmon returns in key Alaskan waterways. Rivers like the Yukon and the Deshka have experienced some of the lowest returns on record, leading to strict fishing restrictions and closures. These low numbers are attributed to various factors, including ocean conditions, bycatch, and climate change, which collectively put immense pressure on the species.
The poor returns mean that the already slim chance of a fish reaching the 97-pound benchmark is diminishing. The Kenai River, while still producing occasional 70- to 80-pound fish, is under constant scrutiny, making Les Anderson's 1985 catch a truly historic artifact of a healthier, bygone era for the species.
Advanced Techniques to Catch a Record-Chasing Chinook
Anglers who target these behemoths on the Kenai River and other trophy waters employ highly specialized techniques designed to put a lure directly in front of a bottom-hugging giant. King Salmon are known to hold in the deepest, strongest currents of the river during their spawning run, requiring heavy tackle and precision boat handling.
Key Fishing Methods
- Back-Trolling: This is arguably the most effective and popular method on the Kenai River. A boat is slowly maneuvered backward against the current, allowing a plug or lure to "walk" the bottom where the largest King Salmon are holding. The speed of the boat must be perfectly matched to the current to keep the lure in the strike zone.
- Back-Bouncing: This technique involves using a heavy lead weight (often a "slinky" weight) to bounce a presentation—usually a spin-n-glo or a cluster of eggs—along the river bottom. This method targets fish that are actively feeding or reacting to a lure in their immediate path.
Essential Lures and Gear
The choice of lure is critical, especially in rivers like the Kenai, which often have "no bait" regulations during peak season. Large, brightly colored plugs are the standard. The Luhr-Jensen K-16 Kwikfish is one of the most famous and successful lures for back-trolling King Salmon, designed to dive deep and produce a wide, aggressive wobble that triggers a strike from a territorial fish.
The Legacy of the 97-Pound King
The 97-pound, 4-ounce King Salmon caught by Les Anderson is more than just a world record; it is the gold standard of trophy salmon fishing. Its longevity is a testament to the immense size of the fish itself and the difficulty of officially breaking the record in a modern era of conservation and declining fish returns. While the 105-pound Rivers Inlet giant remains the "uncrowned" King, Anderson's fish holds the title—a monumental achievement that continues to inspire anglers to cast their lines in the hope of one day challenging the legendary benchmark.
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