New York Angler Achievement Awards Program

Top New York Angler Achievement Awards Program

Dante holding their record-breaking smallmouth bass

2024 New State Records

New Smallmouth Bass Record

Dante Piraino caught a record-breaking smallmouth bass that weighed 9 lbs. from the St. Lawrence River, St. Lawrence County on September 22, 2024.

James Britenbaugh holding record-setting largemouth bass

2024 New State Records

New Largemouth Bass Record

James Britenbaugh caught a record breaking largemouth bass that weighed 12 lbs. 6 oz., from Cayuga Lake, Cayuga County on July 11, 2024.

Chuck Zimmerman holding record-breaking gar

2024 New State Records

New Gar Record

Chuck Zimmerman caught a record breaking gar that weighed in at 15 lbs. 14oz., from Butterfield Lake, Jefferson County on June 21, 2024.

Award Categories

Angler Award Category

The Angler Award recognizes anglers who catch any of the 40 eligible fish species that meet or exceed the minimum qualifying lengths established for that species. Anglers receive a species-specific Angler Achievement Award sticker – can you collect all 40!?

Entry Rules

Eligible Species and Qualifying Lengths

Submit Your Catch

Youth Angler Award Category (under age 16)

Same as the Angler Award Category; however, minimum qualifying lengths for eligible species are adjusted for anglers under the age of 16. Qualifying entrants receive a species-specific Angler Achievement Award sticker.

Entry Rules

Eligible Species and Qualifying Lengths

Submit Your Catch

State Record Award Category

The State Record Award recognizes anglers who break current New York State records for any of the 39 eligible fish species. Anglers receive a custom engraved plaque, an Angler Achievement Award lapel pin, and a Certificate of Achievement.

Entry Rules

Eligible Species/Current Records

Submit Your Catch

Checklist:

Submit entry forms within 30 days of the catch
Review the entry rules and ensure the fish meets the minimum qualifying measurements
Adhere to the freshwater fishing regulations
State Record submissions must use the printable entry form only

Online Entry Form Printable Entry Form

Entry Rules

Fish must be taken during their respective open season by angling or ice fishing in New York State waters in accordance with New York State Fishing Regulations. Fish showing signs of foul hooking (hooked other than in the mouth), gill nets, tampering or foreign objects will be disqualified. Bowfishing entries are not eligible.
Entry Form: Qualifying fish must be entered on the official entry form. All applicable portions of the entry form must be completed. Entry forms must be received within 30 days of the catch.
Submitting Photographs:
1. A side-view photograph that shows the entire fish (angler with the fish is encouraged).
2. The fish should also be photographed next to a ruler, measuring tape, or an object of known size (e.g., fishing rod, tackle box, etc.).
3. Information provided on the entry form and associated photographs become the property of the DEC and may be used for promotional purposes.
Angler Award and Youth Angler Award Entry Requirements
1. The fish must be one of the 40 species designated under the Angler Award and Youth Angler Award Categories.
2. The fish must be measured from tip of nose to tip of tail.
3. The fish must meet or exceed the minimum qualifying length.
4. The number of stickers awarded annually will be limited to one sticker per angler per species.
State Record Category Entry Requirements:
1. The fish must be one of the 39 species designated for State Record consideration.
2. Fish must be weighed on a certified scale by the owner or employee of the business where the scale is located. Certified scales can be found at post offices, supermarkets, and bait shops. Fish weighed on personal handheld scales will not be accepted.
3. Weighing must be observed by one witness other than the scale owner or business employee.
4. The fish must exceed the previous record by at least 1 ounce to qualify as a new state record (see current State Records).
5. Fish must be kept for the purposes of being weighed on a certified scale (see b. above) and examined by a DEC Fisheries Biologist.
6. The fish must be identified and examined by a DEC Fisheries Biologist prior to any cutting of the fish or removal of entrails. If caught during the weekend, keep fish on ice (do not freeze) after weight certification. Contact the appropriate DEC Regional Fisheries Office on the next business day.
7. Fish fed or otherwise grown with the intention of breaking a state record will be disqualified.

The DEC Bureau of Fisheries reserves the right to reject any Angler Achievement Award Application on the basis of erroneous species identification, improper handling, illegal fishing methods, evidence of tampering or foreign objects, or inability to adequately document any of the circumstances relating to the catch.

Angler Award/Youth Angler Award

Eligible Species and Qualifying Lengths

Species		Minimum Qualifying Lengths
Species		Angler Award (age 16 and up)	Youth Angler Award (under age 16)
Bass, Largemouth		20 inches	18 inches
Bass, Smallmouth		18 inches	16 inches
Bass, Rock		10 inches	8 inches
Bass, Striped (inland – Hudson River, Delaware River)		36 inches	34 inches
Bass, White		16 inches	14 inches
Bluegill (sunfish)		10 inches	8 inches
Bowfin		27 inches	25 inches
Bullhead, Black		14 inches	12 inches
Bullhead, Brown		14 inches	12 inches
Burbot		24 inches	22 inches
Carp, Common		34 inches	32 inches
Catfish, Channel		30 inches	28 inches
Catfish, White		15 inches	13 inches
Cisco (Lake Herring)		17 inches	15 inches
Crappie, Black		14 inches	12 inches
Crappie, White		14 inches	12 inches
Drum, Freshwater		26 inches	24 inches
Fallfish		15 inches	13 inches
Gar, Longnose		38 inches	36 inches
Muskellunge	Great Lakes & Tributaries	54 inches	54 inches
Muskellunge	All other waters	48 inches	46 inches
Muskellunge, Tiger		38 inches	36 inches
Perch, White		14 inches	12 inches
Perch, Yellow		14 inches	12 inches
Pickerel, Chain		25 inches	23 inches
Pike, Northern		36 inches	34 inches
Pumpkinseed (sunfish)		10 inches	8 inches
Redbreast (sunfish)		9 inches	8 inches
Salmon, Atlantic	Great Lakes	30 inches	28 inches
Salmon, Atlantic	Inland	24 inches	22 inches
Salmon, Chinook		38 inches	36 inches
Salmon, Coho		30 inches	28 inches
Shad, American		20 inches	18 inches
Sucker (Redhorse species)		22 inches	20 inches
Sucker, White		20 inches	18 inches
Trout, Brook		18 inches	16 inches
Trout, Brown	Great Lakes	26 inches	24 inches
	Inland Lakes	24 inches	22 inches
	Inland Streams	20 inches	18 inches
Trout, Lake	Great Lakes	33 inches	31 inches
Trout, Lake	Inland	30 inches	28 inches
Trout, Rainbow	Great Lakes	30 inches	28 inches
	Inland Lakes	24 inches	22 inches
	Inland Streams	20 inches	18 inches
Trout, Splake		20 inches	18 inches
Walleye		25 inches	23 inches
Whitefish, Lake		21 inches	19 inches

Current State Records

Current State Record Fish as of October 3, 2024
Species	Weight	Length (inches)	Angler	Lure	Water	Date
Bass, Largemouth	12 lb. 6 oz.	25	James Britenbaugh	Senko	Cayuga Lake, Cayuga Co.	7/11/2024
Bass, Smallmouth	9 lb. 0 oz.	23.125	Dante Piraino	Ned rig-Berkley Flatnose Minnow	St. Lawrence River, St. Lawrence Co.	9/22/2024
Bass, Rock	2 lb. 0 oz.	14.5	Jason Leusch	Live shiner	Port Bay (Lake Ontario), Wayne Co.	5/24/2020
Bass, White	3 lb. 8 oz.	18	Morgan Fonzi	Steelshad	Lower Niagara River, Niagara Co.	5/6/2020
Bluegill (sunfish)	2 lb. 8 oz.	12	Devin VanZandt	Worm	Kohlbach Pond, Broome Co.	8/3/1992
Bowfin	13 lb. 8 oz.	30.5	Chase Soptelean	Cut Bait	Yanty Creek, Monroe Co.	6/13/2021
Bullhead, Black	7 lb. 7 oz.	26	Kevin Kelly	Wonder Bread	Mill Pond, Nassau Co.	8/25/1993
Bullhead, Brown	7 lb. 6 oz.	22.2	Glenn Collacuro	Sawbelly	Lake Mahopac, Putnam Co.	8/1/2009
Burbot	16 lb. 12 oz.	34.75	Terrance Colwell	Minnow	Lake Ontario (Black River Bay), Jefferson Co.	2/14/1991
Carp, Common	50 lb. 6 oz.	44.5	Charles Primeau Sr.	Nightcrawler	Tomhannock Reservoir, Rensselaer Co.	5/12/1995
Catfish, Channel	35 lb. 12 oz.	40	Bailey Williams	Cut Bait	Black River, Jefferson County	5/8/2022
Catfish, White	10 lb. 5 oz.	25.5	Joe Silicato	Jig & Cut Bait	New Croton Reservoir, Westchester Co.	5/17/1998
Cisco (Lake Herring)	5 lb. 7 oz.	n/a	Albert Baratto	Tear Drop & Grub	Lake Lauderdale, Washington Co.	1/25/1990
Crappie, Black	4 lb. 1 oz.	18.5	William Wightman	Black marabou jig	Lake Flavia, Cattaraugus Co.	5/6/2018
Crappie, White	4 lb. 7 oz.	19	Roy Isaac	Minnow	Sleepy Hollow Lake, Greene Co.	8/21/2021
Drum, Freshwater	36 lb. 0 oz.	42.75	Jason Bair	Rapala Jigging Rap	Oneida Lake, Oneida Co.	6/16/2017
Fallfish	3 lb. 9 oz.	19	Jonathan McNamara	Tube Jig	Susquehanna River, Tioga Co.	4/15/2009
Gar, Longnose	15 lb. 14 oz.	53.25	Chuck Zimmerman	Swimbait	Butterfield Lake, Jefferson Co.	6/21/2024
Muskellunge	69 lb. 15 oz.	64.5	Arthur Lawton	n/a	St. Lawrence River, Jefferson Co.	9/22/1957
Muskellunge, Tiger	35 lb. 8 oz.	50	Brett Gofgosky	Sucker	Tioughnioga River, Broome Co.	5/25/1990
Perch, White	3 lb. 1 oz.	17.5	Joseph Tansey	Alewife	Lake Oscaletta, Westchester Co.	9/21/1991
Perch, Yellow	3 lb. 8 oz.	n/a	George Boice	Minnow	Lake Erie, Erie Co.	4/28/1982
Pickerel, Chain	8 lb. 1 oz.	n/a	John Bosland	n/a	Toronto Reservoir, Sullivan Co.	2/13/1965
Pike, Northern	46 lb. 2 oz.	n/a	Peter Dubuc	Heddon Flaptail	Great Sacandaga Lake, Fulton Co.	9/15/1940
Pumpkinseed (sunfish)	1 lb. 9 oz.	11.5	R. Kennard Mosher	Nightcrawler	Indian Lake, Hamilton Co.	7/19/1994
Pumpkinseed (sunfish)	1 lb. 9 oz.	11.5	Jordan Tontarski	Jig w/spike	Black River, Jefferson Co.	1/26/2020
Redbreast (sunfish)	Vacant (minimum weight of 1 lb.)
Salmon, Atlantic	24 lb. 15 oz.	35	Mike Dandino	Bomber Long A	Lake Ontario, Wayne Co.	4/5/1997
Salmon, Chinook	47 lb. 13 oz.	48	Kurtis Killian	Orange Fly	Salmon River, Oswego Co.	9/7/1991
Salmon, Coho	33 lb. 7 oz.	41.9	Stephen Sheets Jr.	Cut Bait	Lake Ontario, Oswego Co.	8/13/1998
Shad, American	9 lb. 4 oz.	28	Robert Kubica	Shad Dart	Hudson River, Albany Co.	5/9/2007
Sucker, Shorthead Redhorse	11 lb. 11 oz.	n/a	Joe Williams	Nightcrawler	Salmon River, Oswego Co.	5/26/1996
Sucker, White	5 lb. 8 oz.	24	Joshua Wegner	Nightcrawler	Cold Brook, Steuben Co.	4/14/2015
Trout, Brook	6 lb. 0 oz.	22.6	Richard Beauchamp	Lake Clear Wabbler	Silver Lake Wilderness Area, Hamilton Co.	5/16/2013
Trout, Brown	33 lb. 2 oz.	38	Tony Brown	Smithwick Rogue	Lake Ontario, Oswego Co.	6/10/1997
Trout, Lake	41 lb. 8 oz.	42.75	Jesse Wykstra	NK Spoon	Lake Erie, Chautauqua Co.	8/9/2003
Trout, Rainbow	31 lb. 3 oz.	39	Robert Wilson	Joe's Pirate Crystalina	Lake Ontario, Niagara Co.	8/14/2004
Trout, Splake	13 lb. 8 oz.	31	Jonathan Simon	Rapala	Limekiln Lake, Herkimer Co.	6/27/2004
Walleye	18 lb. 2 oz.	32	Brian Hartman	Swimbait	St. Lawrence River, St. Lawrence Co.	5/5/2018
Whitefish, Lake	10 lb. 8 oz.	27.87	Randolph Smith	Worm & Spinner	Lake Pleasant, Hamilton Co.	8/29/1995
*Retired Historical State Records* (No longer eligible for State Record consideration)
Eel, American	7 lb. 14 oz.	n/a	Larry Manino	Nightcrawler	Cayuga Lake, Seneca Co.	7/25/1984
Pickerel, Redfin	2 lb. 1 oz.	n/a	Duane Gillespie	Do Jigger	Lake Champlain, Essex Co.	3/5/1989
Salmon, Kokanee	3 lb. 6 oz.	21.5	Kenneth Shear	Wobbler & Worm	Boy Scouts Clear Pond, Franklin Co.	6/14/2002
Salmon, Pink	4 lb. 15 oz.	n/a	Randy Nyberg	Johnson Sprite	Lake Erie, Chautauqua Co.	9/16/1985
Sauger	4 lb. 8 oz.	22.19	Darrin Schwenkbeck	Gitzit	Lower Niagara River, Niagara Co.	9/30/1990
Striped Bass	60 lb. 0 oz.	53	Eric Lester	Blood Worm	Hudson River, Orange Co.	5/14/2014
Striped Bass, Hybrid	15 lb. 5 oz.	26.5	Bryan Colley	Sawbelly	Lake Waccabuc, Westchester Co.	7/30/2004

My First Fish Certificate - DIY!

My First Fish Certificates can be completed and printed at home to showcase a beginner angler’s very first catch! Certificates are available in the following formats:

My First Fish - Landscape (Download to Add Image)

My First Fish - Portrait (Download to Add Image)

My First Fish - Stock Image