King salmon also known as Chinook salmon are prized for their large size and rich, fatty taste. But just how big do these fish get? Let’s take a closer look at the average size and weight of king salmon to get a better sense of what makes them truly king.
The Vital Statistics: Length and Weight Range of King Salmon
- Average Length: 36 inches
- Average Weight: 20 pounds
- Record Length: 58 inches
- Record Weight: 126 pounds
So while most king salmon clock in around 3 feet long and 20 pounds, they have the potential to grow much larger. The king salmon is the largest of all salmon species which is how it earned its regal moniker.
To put their size into perspective, king salmon can be over double the size of some of their smaller salmon cousins like sockeye and coho. The average sockeye salmon is around 25 inches long and weighs about 6 pounds. That’s quite a difference!
Typical Size Progression of King Salmon
King salmon put on some serious growth as they migrate between freshwater rivers and the ocean over their lifecycle:
- As eggs and fry in gravel nests called redds, they are under 2 inches long
- After hatching and living in freshwater rivers for a year, juveniles reach 2-3 inches
- When they migrate to the ocean as smolt, they are about 5 inches
- After a year in the ocean, they are 12-24 inches long
- After 2-6 years total growing in the ocean, they return to rivers to spawn at full adult size
So most of a king salmon’s size is gained during their ocean phase, where they feast on other fish like herring and put on pounds rapidly.
Why Does Size Matter for King Salmon?
For king salmon, large size equates to:
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Survival advantage: Being bigger makes them better ocean predators and helps them migrate upstream past obstacles.
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Greater fertility: Larger females can carry more eggs, upwards of 14,000! More eggs means more offspring and better chances some will survive.
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Higher value: Bigger king filets mean higher market value for commercial fishermen. A 20 pound Chinook can fetch twice the price per pound as smaller 10 pound salmon.
So king salmon are evolutionarily motivated to reach their mammoth proportions. Those that grow biggest reap reproductive rewards. Fishermen also target kings since their large fillets command higher prices at fish markets and restaurants.
Key Factors Influencing King Salmon Growth
Many elements come into play in producing king salmon giants:
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Age – The longest living king salmon survive up to 7 years and spend more time bulking up in the highly productive ocean environment.
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Genetics – Some king salmon lineages are genetically predisposed to grow larger. Selective fishing pressures over generations favor survival of the biggest.
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Abundant food – Rich ocean feeding grounds full of fish and squid provide fuel for growth. Salmon with best access to food sources grow fastest.
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Optimal river conditions – Clean, cold rivers with deep pools and minimal migration barriers allow juveniles to thrive.
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Climate patterns – Productive ocean conditions related to shifts in currents and temperature promote plankton and fish booms that salmon consume.
So in optimum conditions, king salmon can maximize their genetic growth potential to achieve trophy sizes. However, factors like pollution, habitat loss, climate change, and overfishing are making it increasingly hard for king salmon to reach their legendary proportions. Protecting these apex predators and the ecosystems they rely on is key to ensuring king salmon can continue living large well into the future.
Current Status of King Salmon Populations
Unfortunately, many king salmon runs along the west coast of North America have declined steeply in past decades. According to Alaska Department of Fish & Game, king salmon populations in rivers like the Yukon and Kuskokwim have fallen by more than 50% since their peak runs in the 1980s and 90s.
Causes for shrinking king salmon numbers include:
- Dams blocking access to spawning grounds
- Loss of juvenile rearing habitat
- Warming waters due to climate change
- Overfishing of prey species
- Increased predation
The decreasing abundance means kings must be carefully managed to prevent overharvest. Strict catch limits and quotas are now in place to help conserve kings during their lows. The hope is populations will rebound so we can continue sustainably fishing these legendary lunkers.
In the meantime, seeking out king salmon from healthy, well-managed runs like those in Alaska is the best way to source ethical, eco-friendly kings. Choosing hook and line caught kings from sustainable fisheries ensures your purchase isn’t contributing to overfishing. Plus, supporting local fishermen investing in the long-term health of salmon runs helps fund conservation efforts.
So while king salmon may not always tip the scales over 100 pounds as they have in the past, focusing on sustainable fishing and habitat protection can ensure these magnificent fish continue reaching their full kingly potential. Their impressive size and unique flavor is something worth preserving for future generations.
Understand the Salmon behavior
When the salmon get ready to head upstream to spawn, they undergo a major metamorphosis. They begin to gorge on food and then their body changes so that they can move from salt water to fresh water. Part of the change that they undergo is that they stop eating. They have only one mission left in their life, and that is to spawn. So why do they strike flies or lures? Salmon are aggressive fish and that high level of energy causes them to react to things in their environment. Part of their biological drive is to give their offspring the best chance they can for survival. Even the rivers of Alaska have a limited amount of resources for small fish. So, salmon strike at things that look like other salmon eggs because by consuming the eggs of other salmon, they give their offspring more opportunities to find food come spring when their own roe hatches.
Where and When to find King Salmon?
The life cycle of the King Salmon involves both freshwater and saltwater so you can find and fish for adult King Salmon in both types of water. In the oceans and bays around Alaska, the kings start to make their way from the deeper waters towards the inlets and deltas along the western shores and along the Gulf of Alaska. This process usually begins to peak in May along the Southeastern side of Alaska. Peak saltwater runs in the waters of the Bristol Bay Watershed occur in June, but along the Kenai Peninsula the saltwater peak season for King Salmon is extended and runs from May through August .
Some of the best places to fish for King Salmon are at the mouths and tidal waters of many major rivers such as the Alagnak, Susitna, Kenai, Nushagak, Copper, and the Stikine. For freshwater fishing, all of these rivers and many of their smaller tributaries make outstanding locations to catch king salmon.
big king salmon weight revealed !!
FAQ
How many pounds does a king salmon weigh?
Size: King salmon are the largest of the Pacific salmon species, with adults typically weighing between 30 and 80 pounds.
What is a 30 pound salmon called?
The Chinook salmon is the largest of all Pacific salmon, typically measuring 36 inches in length, often exceeding 30 pounds.
How long is a 40 pound king salmon?
Also known as Chinooks, kings are the largest of the Pacific salmon species, averaging 20 to 40 pounds and around three to four feet long.
How big is a Big King salmon?
There is one species of Atlantic salmon. Chinook/King salmon are the largest salmon and get up to 58 inches (1.5 meters) long and 126 pounds (57.2 kg).