A new state record for longnose gar was set on June 21st.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said Chuck Zimmerman of Hilton, reeled in a 15-pound, 14-ounce longnose gar from Butterfield Lake in Jefferson County using a topwater swimbait. 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 prefers shallow weedy areas of larger lakes and can be found swimming near the water’s surface. In New York, longnose gar is 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.
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