BOISE, Idaho — Matt Hosking of Lewiston caught a record-breaking coho salmon on Oct. 13, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) said on Tuesday.
Hosking went fishing in the Clearwater River and caught a "colossal coho" that measured 32.68 inches in length. With high hopes, he weighed the fish on a certified scale at a local grocery store, which turned out to be 11.78 pounds. This salmon weighed slightly more than the previous record-holder by .48 ounces.
Idaho Fish and Game determines record-breaking fish by their size and certified weight.
According to the IDFG, this is the third year they have seen a strong return in coho salmon, and there has only been one other year where over 15,000 adults passed over the Lower Granite Dam. They also say fish like this are rare.
"There are bigger coho out here, but not many," said Joe DuPont, Clearwater Region fishery manager. "Based on the 2,400 coho we have trapped at Lower Granite Dam this year, only two would surpass the size of this fish."
The IDFG said the success of the Coho Salmon Fishery in the Clearwater River began in 1994 when the Nez Perce Tribe started the program.
For information on how to send in your fish or see previous records, visit the IDFG's website here.
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