The largest hatchery chinook ever taken came from Rivers Inlet British Columbia in 1989 while Rivers Inlet Resort guest, David McElveen, trolled for salmon for the first time. His incredible trophy chinook weighed a whopping 81 1/2 pounds!

The fish was so big McElveen needed help holding it up for photos.

In 1986 the largest chinook ever recorded, a jumbo trophy chinook weighing more than many humans, 126 pounds, was captured in an Indian net in front of Rivers Inlet British Columbia. At the time of the incredible catch, the Indian commercial fisher was targeting sockeye salmon. Today the Canadian government doesn't allow a net fishery on the sockeye at Rivers Inlet, which further ensures the chances of a sports angler catching the next world record chinook salmon.

While not every fish taken at Rivers Inlet is a record, hundreds of personal records are shattered during the short 40 day Rivers Inlet Resort season. First time Rivers Inlet Resort guests find it hard to believe the average chinook taken weighs into the high 30's to low 40's. Some years the average is bigger and some years, like 1999, the average is slightly smaller.

Rivers Inlet chinook have one major factor in their favor when it comes to size. Genetics, plain and simple. The drainage that feeds Rivers Inlet is known for chinook that grow to incredible sizes. The next factor has more to do with the Pacific Ocean.

On August 18, 2003 John L. Beath set the new I.G.F.A. six-pound line class record for chinook while fishing just 100 yards from the doorstep of Rivers Inlet Resort. Beath's record catch weighed 51.25 pounds.

Rivers Inlet also has record coho and chum salmon. While fishing for trophy chinook in 1998, Richard Lollee caught a potential All-tackle world record, 30 pound chum. The fish would have been a record had it been officially entered. Rivers Inlet Resort provides the most accurate, certified scale on the coast. The International Game Fish Association, (IGFA) accepts the weights recorded on the Rivers Inlet Resort scale. The staff at RIR is more than happy to provide IGFA catch record entry forms if you choose to enter your catch in the annual IGFA fishing contest or too enter your catch as a potential line class record or All-tackle world record.

We fully expect the chinook All-tackle world record chinook to be taken in the next few years. Potential record chinook exceeding the current record chinook of 97 pounds 4 ounces, have been seen along the shores of the Wannock River at the head of Rivers Inlet. Who will be the sports angler that catches the next world record chinook?


It could be you -- but you have to secure your spot at Rivers Inlet Resort if you want your chance at fishing fame.