Where the Records Live
Throughout the Northeast, there are a few storied areas where anglers have landed a disproportionate number of record-sized fish. Places like Montauk, Martha’s Vineyard, and Cape May are well known as record producers in saltwater, but when it comes to freshwater records, nowhere holds a candle to Oswego County, New York.
Tucked into the southeastern corner of Lake Ontario, Oswego County is home to the Salmon River, the most productive tributary in the Great Lakes. The river runs through the towns of Altmar and Pulaski and sees prolific runs of king salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and brown trout. The biggest salmon in the lake return here every summer and fall, and the record books prove it.
The Record Board
New York State Record, King Salmon: 47 lb, 13 oz
New York State Record, Brown Trout: 33 lb, 2 oz
New York State Record, Coho Salmon: 33 lb, 7 oz
IGFA World Record, Coho Salmon: 33 lb, 4 oz (1989)
Oswego County anglers have also set world line-class records for rainbow trout, king salmon, and coho salmon.
The Day the Speedway Scales Made History
Aug. 13, 1998 was already a good day for Capt. Mike Stilin’s crew fishing off Oswego Harbor. They had netted some nice salmon when Stephen Sheets Jr. of Woolrich, PA hooked into another big fish on cut bait rigged with an A-Tom-Mik bait head.
When it hit the boat, Stilin knew something was off. The fish looked too big for a coho, but it didn’t look like a Chinook either. They ran back to Oswego to meet DEC biologist Les Wedge, who put the fish through several tests. With no scale on hand that could certify a fish that size, they borrowed certified scales from the Oswego Speedway. That afternoon, Wedge announced a new state record coho at 33 pounds, 7 ounces.
The IGFA world record coho is Jerry Lifton’s 33-pound, 4-ounce fish, caught in the Salmon River in 1989. Either way, both monsters came from Oswego County waters, and both are the biggest coho salmon caught in any state’s waters, including Alaska!
Two Days, Two World Records
Some anglers dream about a record. Theresa Caputo drove one home, twice. She traveled more than 1,000 miles from Florida to Pulaski in September 2020, determined to earn a spot in the IGFA record books.
It took a few days. On Sept. 15, she landed a world record Chinook at 15 pounds, 12 ounces on an 8-pound tippet. Two days later, she caught a second record-breaker at 20 pounds, 1 ounce. The IGFA confirmed both in November 2020.
So why make that trip? “Every year, I would see photos of people with big smiles and even bigger kings,” Caputo said. “I heard stories of tail-walking salmon and needed a piece of the action. I made my first trip in 2015, and I’ve been hooked ever since!”
A Fishery That Never Shuts Down
Records get the headlines, but the real draw is that Oswego County fishes all year:
- Spring: Steelhead and smallmouth in the Salmon River
- Summer: Salmon and trout out on Lake Ontario
- Fall: World-class salmon fishing in the river
Plan Your Trip
Ready to write your own chapter? Start with the Oswego County Fishing and Hunting Guide for everything you need to plan your trip, plus more stories behind the catches. You can also see the full list at Oswego County’s World and State Records page.
Oswego County Fishing FAQs
What fish can you catch in Oswego County?
The Salmon River sees prolific runs of king salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and brown trout. Smallmouth bass are a spring option in the river, and Lake Ontario produces salmon and trout in the summer.
When is the best time to fish Oswego County?
It fishes all year. Spring brings steelhead and smallmouth in the Salmon River, summer means salmon and trout out on Lake Ontario, and fall is when the river’s world-class salmon fishing peaks.
Where is the Salmon River?
The Salmon River is the most productive tributary in the Great Lakes. It flows into the southeastern corner of Lake Ontario in Oswego County, New York, running through the towns of Altmar and Pulaski.
What are the New York state records caught in Oswego County?
Anglers fishing Oswego County waters hold the state records for king salmon (47 lb, 13 oz), brown trout (33 lb, 2 oz), and coho salmon (33 lb, 7 oz).
Is there a world record fish from Oswego County?
Yes. Jerry Lifton’s 33-lb, 4-oz coho, caught in the Salmon River in 1989, is the IGFA world record for the species. Oswego County anglers have also set world line-class records for rainbow trout, king salmon, and coho salmon.
How do I start planning a trip to Oswego County?
Start with the Oswego County Fishing and Hunting Guide, which also includes the stories behind some of the record catches.