An angler was preparing for an upcoming bass tournament on Cayuga Lake.
Practice made the perfect catch.
James Britenbaugh of Pennsylvania shattered a 37-year-old New York state record for largemouth bass, the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced .
Britenbaugh reeled a 12-pound, 6-ounce bass that surpassed the previous state mark by 1 pound, 2 ounces, or 10%. The record that stood from 1987 was hooked in Buckhorn Lake, Otsego County in 1987.
The largemouth bass is the top predator in its aquatic ecosystem and the most popular recreational fish species in the country. It has an elongated body that ranges from silvery-white to olive and brassy green.
New York state has five lakes on Bassmaster Magazine's Top 100 Best Bass Lakes in the United States, including the No. spot. The St. Lawrence River was ranked the top bass lake in the country, followed by Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River (No. 7). Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake and Oneida Lake also made the list.
“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,” DEC interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said.
It was the second state fishing record in less than three weeks. Chuck Zimmerman of Hilton caught a 15-pound, 14-ounce longnose gar in June on Butterfield Lake in Redwood, Jefferson County.
The DEC has a newly overhauled Angler Achievement Awards Program , which tracks individual achievements and state fishing records. Anglers can submit state records and enter freshwater fish for 40 species that meet qualifying criteria to officially document their catch and receive species-specific commemorative stickers.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Fisherman practicing for tournament breaks New York record for most popular species in the country
Most Popular
Comments / 0