Pink salmon across Minnesota
Limits, records and lakes for pink salmon.
- 5 combined total; milimit
- 4 lb 8 ozrecord
Pick for salmonPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Lake City: chief_huddleston, CC BY 4.0
About Minnesota pink salmon
Pink salmon counts among the trout and salmon family in Minnesota. Anglers may keep 5 combined total; minimum size 10″ in lake superior and tributaries below posted boundaries, Continuous.
In 1989, Cascade River produced the record of 4 lb 8 oz.
For the salmon herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 How the DNR describes pink salmon
“Three species of Pacific salmon have been introduced to Lake Superior in the past few decades and now reproduce naturally in the lake. All feed in the big lake until they reach sexual maturity. In the fall, all three species swim up rivers to spawn and die, completing their life cycle. The largest salmon is the Chinook Salmon, also called King salmon, which grows to over 10 pounds in Lake Superior, though most catches are around 3 to 4 pounds. Coho Salmon, also called silver salmon, are smaller, averaging about 1.5 to 3 pounds. The smallest at just over a pound is the Pink Salmon, also called humpy (for the large hump on the back that males develop during breeding season).”
- Pink salmon: small scales; spawning male has hump on back; some eye-sized spots in tail and on back; green and white blotches on spawning fish.identification
- Coho Salmon, also called silver salmon, are smaller, averaging about 1.5 to 3 pounds.identification
- Three species of Pacific salmon have been introduced to Lake Superior in the past few decades and now reproduce naturally in the lake.habitat
- All feed in the big lake until they reach sexual maturity.habitat
- humpyalso called
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
pink salmon limits and seasons
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Superior and tributaries below posted boundaries | 5 combined total; minimum size 10" | Continuous |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
The pink salmon record
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| certified weight | 4 lb 8 oz | Cascade River | Cook | 1989 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
Outfitters who list pink salmon
- Action Fishing ChartersLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, Duluth, (218) 355-8540
- Angler Management ChartersLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, Duluth, (218) 390-7933
- Grand Marais ChartersLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, Grand Marais, (218) 370-5800
- Reel SwedeLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, (218) 387-4159
- Superior Pursuits Charter FishingLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, Duluth, (906) 360-7513
- Tofte ChartersLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, Schroeder, (218) 663-9932
Species listed with pink salmon
- Lake trouttrout and salmon family
- Brook trouttrout and salmon family
- Brown trouttrout and salmon family
- Rainbow trouttrout and salmon family
- Steelheadtrout and salmon family
- Splaketrout and salmon family
- Tiger trouttrout and salmon family
- Chinook salmontrout and salmon family
- Coho salmontrout and salmon family
- Atlantic salmontrout and salmon family
- Kokanee salmontrout and salmon family
- Lake whitefishtrout and salmon family
Pictures of water close to Pink salmon
Photo: Lorne Sunley, CC BY 3.0
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Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
Handy answers on pink salmon
May Minnesota anglers keep pink salmon?
5 combined total; minimum size 10" (Lake Superior and tributaries below posted boundaries), season Continuous.
Which Minnesota water gave up the record pink salmon?
4 lb 8 oz from Cascade River (1989).
Which lakes hold pink salmon?
The DNR notes above describe where it lives.
Where does the DNR stock pink salmon?
None listed on the area pages.
How do I tell pink salmon from similar fish?
Pink salmon: small scales; spawning male has hump on back; some eye-sized spots in tail and on back; green and white blotches on spawning fish.
When does Minnesota pink salmon season open and close?
Continuous
Do kids need a license for pink salmon?
Designated trout water takes a Minnesota angling license ($25 resident, $51 nonresident) and the $10 trout and salmon stamp validation for ages 18 to 64.
Which guides list pink salmon?
6 guides list it, including Action Fishing Charters.
Plan a Minnesota pink salmon trip
Pick a lake from the lists on this page.