The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reported that a Pennsylvania man broke a New York State record by catching a 12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass from Cayuga Lake. James Britenbaugh was preparing for a bass tournament when he achieved this feat, surpassing the previous 27-year-old record for largemouth bass caught from Buckhorn Lake in 1987, which weighed 11 pounds, 2 ounces.

New York State was well-represented in Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 100 Best Bass Lakes in the country this year, with five lakes making the list. The St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands) was ranked as the top bass water in the nation, while Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River secured the seventh spot. Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake, and Oneida Lake also made it to the list of Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 25 Northeastern Best Bass Lakes of 2024.

Interim Commissioner Mahar highlighted New York’s exceptional bass fishing opportunities and mentioned Mr. Britenbaugh’s remarkable catch as a testament to this. The Department encourages anglers to participate in the Angler Achievement Awards Program, which acknowledges significant catches and showcases the numerous lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams in New York that produce trophy-sized fish. Under this program, anglers can submit their winning catches, meeting specific qualifying criteria, and receive official recognition along with a species-specific sticker commemorating their achievement.