OGDENSBURG – A nine-pound bass caught last month during a fishing tournament in the city has broken a state record. 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced a new state record for smallmouth bass was set on Sept. 22. Using a soft plastic lure, Dante Piraino of Baldwinsville, Onondaga County, reeled in a nine-pound smallmouth bass from the St. Lawrence River while fishing in a bass tournament hosted in the city of Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County. 

The record-breaking “smallie,” caught in 30 feet of water, surpassed the previous state record caught from Cayuga Lake in 2022 by eight ounces.

“New York provides some of the best bass fishing in the country and Mr. Piraino’s incredible catch is a testament to the outstanding angler opportunities across the state,” Interim Commissioner Mahar said. “There’s nothing better than spending time with family and friends on the water pursuing these exciting sportfish. DEC encourages those fishing in New York’s world class waters to check out the Angler Achievement Awards Program before their next trip.”

Pound for pound, smallmouth bass are considered one of the hardest-fighting freshwater fish in New York. When hooked, they will often take acrobatic leaps out of the water, making them a highly desirable sportfish for anglers. Smallmouth bass can be found across the state in cooler lakes, rivers, and creeks in rocky/gravelly areas. 

Aside from the famed St. Lawrence River, some of the best smallmouth bass waters in New York include Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake, Oneida Lake, and Chautauqua Lake. Lake George, Mohawk River, Susquehanna River, Lower Niagara River, and Keuka Lake are also great options.

The smallmouth bass record comes only a few months after a new state record for largemouth bass was set on July 11, 2024. James Britenbaugh of Pennsylvania reeled in the record-breaking 12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass from Cayuga Lake, Cayuga County. Earlier this year, a new state record for longnose gar was set. On June 21, 2024, Chuck Zimmerman of Hilton, Monroe County, reeled in a 15-pound, 14-ounce longnose gar from Butterfield Lake, Jefferson County.