Skip to main content

Opening-Day Smallie Sets N.Y. State Record

Fishing records also reported in Missouri, Wyoming, Mississippi.

Opening-Day Smallie Sets N.Y. State Record

Thomas Russell Jr. with his 8-pound, 6-ounce Nw York state-record smallmouth bass. (Photo courtesy of Thomas Russell/via DEC)

The opening day of New York's bass-harvest season was one to remember for an angler who now owns the state’s smallmouth bass record.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation confirmed that the 8-pound, 6-ounce smallmouth caught June 15 at Cayuga Lake by Thomas Russell Jr. of Albion, is a record, breaking the previous mark by two ounces. The former record was shared by catches at Lake Erie in 1995, and St. Lawrence River in 2016, the DEC said.

"Smallmouth bass are one of New York's most popular freshwater sportfish and it's exciting to share the great news of Mr. Russell's record-breaking catch," DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. "New York's Finger Lakes are truly an angler's paradise, providing exceptional fishing opportunities for a variety of sportfish.”

This is the second state record set this year. On May 8, the state record for channel catfish was broken when Bailey Williams of Watertown reeled in a 35-pound, 12-ounce channel catfish from the Black River in Jefferson County.


For additional information on New York's Angler Achievement Awards Program, call (518) 402-8891 or email fwfish@dec.ny.gov.

Mississippi: 3 Salt Records Reported

Mississippi Salt Records
John Wright (left, Blackberry Rosefish), Brandon Powell (top right, Unicorn Filefish), Harley Havard (bottom right, Bigeye) set Mississippi fishing records in June. (Photos courtesy MS Department of Marine Resources)

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources certified three state fishing records for the month of June:

  • John Wright of Madison, Miss., set the record with conventional tackle for Blackbelly Rosefish (Helicolenus dactylopterus) with a fish weighing 2 pounds, 11.2 ounces.
  • Harley Havard of Lucedale set the all-tackle record for Bigeye (Priacanthus arenatus) with a fish weighing 2 pounds, 11.52 ounces.
  • Brandon Powell of Vancleave also set an all-tackle record for Unicorn Filefish (Aluterus monoceros) with a fish weighing 5 pounds, 9.8 ounces.

Visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov.


Missouri Bow Angler Sets Sunfish Mark

Missouri alternative methods sunfish
Andrew Hunt of Hollister arrowed this state-record 2-pound, 2-ounce redear sunfish. (Photo courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation)

The Missouri Department of Conservation certified a new alternative-methods state record for redear sunfish. On his first trip bow fishing as part of his 21st birthday celebration, Andrew Hunt of Hollister shot a state-record 2-pound, 2-ounce redear sunfish at Lake Taneycomo on June 4. That beat the previous record by an ounce.

“I got up to the front of the boat and actually thought it was a big shad,” Hunt said in an MDC new release. “I reeled it in and said, ‘Well, that’s not a shad!’ The guide saw it and said, ‘I think you just got a record!’” Click for more information on Missouri record fish.




Wyoming Angler Breaks Own Record

Wyoming fishing records longnose sucker
Bobo, 34, of Casper, broke his own state record for longnose sucker. (Photo courtesy Wyoming Game and Fish)

Wyoming Game & Fish reports that Casper, Wy., angler Christopher Bobo broke his own state record for longnose sucker with a 2-pound, 11.3-ounce fish caught at the North Platte River in May. He previously broke the record in 2021 with a fish weighing 2-4.5, also from the North Platte River.

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Fishing

Bass Crash Course: How to Properly Tune a Baitcasting Rig

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Fishing

Baitcaster Basics: The Overhead Cast

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Gear

Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Guns

Ruger American Now Chambered in 7mm PRC

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Guns

Classic Marlin: 336 and 1894 Lever-Action Hunting Rifles

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Learn

NWTF's Passion for Wild Turkey Conservation Still Burns After 50 Years

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Gear

First Look: Leupold's BX-4 Range HD Rangefinding Binos

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Gear

Browning's Max Point, Silver Series Rifle Ammunition

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Gear

New Hunting Ammo from Remington: 360 Buckhammer

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Guns

New from Browning: X-Bolt Pro LR McMillan

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Gear

New Hunting Blades from Buck Knives

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Gear

Hornady's Hot New 7mm PRC Cartridge: SHOT 2023

Game & Fish Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Game & Fish App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now