New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced a new state record for longnose gar was set on June 21, 2024. Using a topwater swimbait, Chuck Zimmerman of Hilton, Monroe County, reeled in a 15-pound, 14-ounce longnose gar from Butterfield Lake in Jefferson County. The record-breaking catch surpassed the previous state record longnose gar, caught from Lake Champlain in 2018, by one pound and four ounces.

“From the Hudson River to the St. Lawrence River, Lake George to Chautauqua Lake, New York waterways support strong, healthy fish populations and provide world-class fishing opportunities for anglers of every level,” Interim Commissioner Mahar said. “DEC congratulates Mr. Zimmerman on an impressive catch and encourages all anglers to take advantage of the state’s plentiful fishing opportunities in the hopes they too can catch a new state record or other Angler Achievement Award when they cast their next line.”

The prehistoric longnose gar prefer shallow weedy areas of larger lakes and can be found swimming near the water’s surface. In New York, longnose gar are primarily found in the St. Lawrence River, Niagara River, Lake Champlain, eastern Lake Ontario, and larger tributaries to these waters. Evolutionarily speaking, longnose gar are considered living dinosaurs and New York is fortunate to have these fish swimming in its waters today. Their long, needle-like snout is filled with rows of teeth, making them unmistakable from other fish species.

Mr. Zimmerman submitted details of his winning catch as part of DEC's newly revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program, which also 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 three categories that make up the program 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 phone through an online entry form. The program further supports the Governor's “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative, which was launched earlier this month to promote physical and mental health by helping New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings.

For official program rules, eligible species and associated minimum qualifying lengths, visit the Angler Achievement Awards webpage.