ANOTHER Record-Breaking Bass in New York! – On The Water
Above: Dante Piraino with his 9-pound record-breaking smallmouth caught on the St. Lawrence River on September 22.
Back in July, a tournament angler caught the new state-record largemouth bass while fishing Cayuga Lake in New York. Just two months later, another record catch was made in New York waters, this time, a smallmouth bass caught from the St. Lawrence River. On Sept. 22, 2024, Dante Piraino of Baldwinsville, Onondaga County, caught a 9-pound smallmouth bass while fishing in a bass tournament.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced a new state record for smallmouth bass was set on Sept. 22, 2024. Using a soft plastic lure, Dante Piraino of Baldwinsville, Onondaga County, reeled in a nine-pound smallmouth bass from the St. Lawrence River while fishing in a bass tournament hosted in the city of Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County. The record-breaking “smallie,” caught in 30 feet of water, surpassed the previous state record caught from Cayuga Lake in 2022 by eight ounces.
“New York provides some of the best bass fishing in the country and Mr. Piraino’s incredible catch is a testament to the outstanding angler opportunities across the state,” Interim Commissioner Mahar said. “There’s nothing better than spending time with family and friends on the water pursuing these exciting sportfish. DEC encourages those fishing in New York’s world class waters to check out the Angler Achievement Awards Program before their next trip.”
Pound for pound, smallmouth bass are considered one of the hardest-fighting freshwater fish in New York. When hooked, they will often take acrobatic leaps out of the water, making them a highly desirable sportfish for anglers. Smallmouth bass can be found across the state in cooler lakes, rivers, and creeks in rocky/gravelly areas. Aside from the famed St. Lawrence River, some of the best smallmouth bass waters in New York include Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake, Oneida Lake, and Chautauqua Lake. Lake George, Mohawk River, Susquehanna River, Lower Niagara River, and Keuka Lake are also great options.
The smallmouth bass record comes only a few months after a new state record for largemouth bass was set on July 11, 2024. James Britenbaugh of Pennsylvania reeled in the record-breaking 12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass from Cayuga Lake, Cayuga County. Earlier this year, a new state record for longnose gar was set. On June 21, 2024, Chuck Zimmerman of Hilton, Monroe County, reeled in a 15-pound, 14-ounce longnose gar from Butterfield Lake, Jefferson County.
Mr. Piraino and the other record-holders submitted details of their winning catches as part of DEC’s revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program, which tracks state record fish. Through this program, anglers can enter freshwater fish that meet specific qualifying criteria and receive official recognition of their catch along with a species-specific sticker commemorating their achievement. The program’s three categories are: Angler Award, Youth Angler Award, and State Record. As part of the program revamp, anglers can now submit entries for qualifying catches from the convenience of their smart phones through an online entry form.
Source: https://onthewater.com/another-record-breaking-bass-in-new-york
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