12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass catch breaks New York State record

CAYUGA LAKE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) -- On July 11, a Pennsylvania man reeled in a 12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass from Cayuga Lake, breaking a 37-year-old New York State record for largemouth bass, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced.

James Britenbaugh was at Cayuga Lake, preparing for an upcoming bass tournament, said the DEC. His catch broke the previous record by one pound and two ounces, which was caught from Buckhorn Lake in 1987.

Photos courtesy of the NYSDEC.

Britenbaugh was able to submit his catch with the DEC's Angler Achievement Program, which allows anglers to receive official recognition for their catches and qualify for NYS records.

This broken record comes just a few weeks after a Monroe County man broke the state record for longnose gar with a 15-pound, 14-ounce catch from Butterfield Lake in Jefferson County.

“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. “DEC encourages all anglers fishing in New York to check out the Angler Achievement Awards Program before dropping a line in the water. It's an exciting program that recognizes sizable catches and shines a light on the numerous lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams producing trophy-sized fish right here in New York.”