CAYUGA LAKE, NY — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) interim commissioner Sean Mahar recently announced that a new state record for largemouth bass was set on July 11. James Britenbaugh of Pennsylvania reeled in the record-breaking 12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass from Cayuga Lake in Cayuga County while fishing in preparation for an upcoming bass tournament. 

The record-breaking catch surpasses the previous 37-year-old state record largemouth bass, which was caught from Buckhorn Lake, Otsego County, in 1987.

“It’s no secret that New York has the best bass fishing opportunities in the country and Mr. Britenbaugh’s incredible fish certainly confirms that,” Mahar said. “DEC encourages all anglers fishing in New York to check out the Angler Achievement Awards Program before dropping a line in the water. It’s an exciting program that recognizes sizable catches and shines a light on the numerous lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams producing trophy-sized fish right here in New York.”

This year, five New York lakes landed on Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 100 Best Bass Lakes in the country. Included were the St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands), ranked as the best bass water in the nation; and Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, ranked as the seventh-best water. Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake and Oneida Lake made the list as well.   

The largemouth bass record comes weeks after a new state record for longnose gar was set. On June 21. Chuck Zimmerman of Hilton, Monroe County, reeled in a 15-pound, 14-ounce longnose gar from Butterfield Lake in Jefferson County.

Both Mr. Britenbaugh and Mr. Zimmerman submitted details of their winning catches as part of DEC’s newly revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program. The program recognizes anglers who catch any of the 40 eligible fish species that meet or exceed the minimum qualifying lengths established for that species and tracks state record fish. 

 For official program rules, eligible species and associated minimum qualifying lengths, visit www.dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/angler-achievement-awards-program.