“A fisherman once caught a 97-poung (44 kg) KING SALMON in the Kenai River in south central Alaska.”

National Geographic Kids, 5,000 awesome facts

This is just another fun fact that I am finding out about Alaska.

At Soldotna Chamber of Commerce in Alaska is where homage can be paid to a 97 lb, more than 4 foot tall, 38″ girth King Salmon Chinook from the Kenai River that a Mr. Les Anderson caught on May 17, 1985. He has the proud title of All-Tackle IGFA All-Tackle World Record. There was a larger one caught in a fish trap in 1949 that weighed in at 127 lbs but I think because it was caught in a trap it didn’t count. There were other large ones caught by fishermen that had decided to waive their glory rights and set the fish free to go on and populate, so they were not documented.

Les happened to catch this fish by the river on an early salmon run that goes from late spring to early fall, which usually hosts to smaller salmon. The estimation is that the Chinook was probably more like 100 lbs but due to it being a passenger in the boat and then in a truck for 7 hours it suffered some dehydration.

Salmon can grow to about 4.9 feet and weigh up to 129 lbs, but usually the norm is 3 feet & 30 lbs. Salmon that that weigh over 30 lbs are called “Tyee.”

The cost for king salmon runs roughly $30-$70 per pound, and for that and other reasons they are called the prom queen of fish from the sea.

They are low in carbs, high in protein, and also Omega-3, which is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and cardio vascular diseases, among a few.

That fish weighs about 3 Charley Waffles, and about 8 Stella Vaders.