Kings are the largest Pacific salmon and a genuine bucket-list fish. This chinook (king) salmon length-to-weight chart gives a rough weight-by-length estimate — but because a salmon’s weight swings so much with maturity, girth matters more here than for almost any other fish.
Chinook salmon length-to-weight chart
| Length | Average weight |
|---|---|
| 24″ | 5.53 lb |
| 28″ | 8.78 lb |
| 30″ | 10.8 lb |
| 32″ | 13.1 lb |
| 34″ | 15.7 lb |
| 36″ | 18.7 lb |
| 38″ | 21.9 lb |
| 40″ | 25.6 lb |
| 44″ | 34.1 lb |
| 48″ | 44.2 lb |
These figures use weight (lb) = length³ ÷ 2,500 (length in inches) for a fish in average condition. Treat them as rough: a bright, ocean-fresh king is far heavier than a spawning river fish of the same length.
What’s an average king — and what’s a trophy?
Most sport-caught chinook run 24–40 inches and 10–30 pounds, though size varies hugely with the run and the fish’s age. The classic trophy benchmark is the “Tyee” — a chinook of 30 pounds or more; 40 lb+ is a true trophy and 50 lb+ a fish of a lifetime (angler conventions). The IGFA all-tackle world record is 97 lb 4 oz, caught by Les Anderson on Alaska’s Kenai River in 1985.
Put a number on your exact fish (worked example)
For salmon, guides use a slightly different divisor that reflects their heavy, firm bodies:
Weight (lb) = Length × Girth² ÷ 740
A 36-inch king with a 22-inch girth works out to 36 × 22 × 22 ÷ 740 = 23.5 lb. Because a king’s weight depends so heavily on condition, always measure girth for an accurate number — drop both into our free fish weight calculator, and see how to estimate a fish’s weight.
Why two kings of the same length weigh differently
Chinook die after spawning, and that drives everything: an ocean-bright fish is heaviest and firmest, but once it enters freshwater it stops feeding, burns its reserves, and loses weight — so a spawning-colored river king weighs noticeably less than the same fish caught bright in salt water. Age and sex add even more variation.
Where and when to find bigger chinook
Chinook are anadromous — they hatch in cool, gravel-bottomed rivers, feed in the ocean for one to five years (where nearly all their growth happens on herring, sardines, and squid), then return to their home river to spawn. Anglers catch them on the return run in rivers and estuaries, and in the Great Lakes where they’ve been introduced. Backtrolling or drifting roe, plugs, and bait near the bottom is the standard approach. ID: black gums/mouth and black spots on both lobes of the tail — the surest way to separate a king from a coho.
Chinook salmon weight FAQ
How much does a 36-inch king salmon weigh? Roughly 19–24 pounds, depending heavily on whether it’s ocean-bright or a spawning river fish.
What’s a Tyee? A chinook of 30 pounds or more — a classic trophy benchmark.
Why do river kings weigh less than ocean fish? They stop feeding before spawning and burn their body reserves, losing weight for their length.
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