Fisherman Catches ‘Behemoth’ Chinook Salmon in Oregon

50 Campfires

An Oregon fisherman recently caught a massive 53-pound Chinook salmon in the Chetco River estuary, and the internet is loving it. Steve Wood is the lucky fisherman, and he told The Oregonian that it took 15 minutes to reel in this lunker on September 13.

Even though this behemoth is way over the average size for a Chinook salmon, it’s not a record-setting catch. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) reports that Ernie St. Claire caught an 83-pound Chinook salmon in Oregon’s Umpqua River back in 1910.

Nevertheless, Wood’s Chinook salmon is a fine specimen indeed. Wood told The Oregonian that he plans to take the fish to a taxidermist and mount it in his home. He also said he caught a similar Chinook salmon weighing 50 pounds back in 1980.

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