Local angler bags massive Chinook Salmon

A local fisherman landed a huge Chinook Salmon in Brookings over the weekend. Johnny and Maddie Puget were trolling at around 30 ft down, just north of the port of Brookings-Harbor, when this 27-pounder snagged their hook.

Also known as King Salmon, Chinook are in season during the summer, and are on average larger than the other local salmonid, the Coho Salmon. Hence the name, the minimum length requirements for Chinook Salmon are 8 inches longer than those of Coho Salmon. This trophy passed that metric with flying colors at nearly four feet of fish.

Chinook Salmon season runs through August 31st from the California border to Mount Humbug. Coho season runs through August 4th, but all bagged Coho must have a healed adipose fin clip. Fin clipping indicates to anglers that the caught fish is from a local hatchery, and is therefore not going to negatively affect the local population.

Both commercial and recreational fishing are incredibly important to the South Coast’s way of life. Get out there and enjoy a favorite local activity, and be sure to follow all Oregon fishing guidelines.

For more guidelines and information visit the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s official website.